Lennart Karl's Germany World Cup build-up has been jolted by a training injury in Chicago, with the 18-year-old sent for scans after a muscle fibre tear in the back of his left thigh. He had gone into the tournament as the squad's youngest player and a genuine option on the right wing. Germany have now had to call up a replacement.

Why Karl mattered before the injury

Karl's case was not about filling out a squad list. He had 9 goals and 8 assists in 39 appearances for Bayern München in his breakthrough season, a return that made his inclusion feel earned rather than ceremonial. There is a different conversation here too, because some reporting put his Bayern total at 40 games, while the more precise figure used by other sources is 39. Either way, the underlying point is the same: he had done enough to force himself into the picture.

He had also started and registered an assist in Germany's 4-0 friendly win over Finland, then found himself vying with Leroy Sané for a starting spot on the right wing. Julian Nagelsmann was blunt about the impact, saying: "I feel incredibly sorry for Lenny. His fearlessness, invention, pace and personality meant he fitted into the team brilliantly. It is a huge shock for him and for all of us that he will miss the World Cup."

That is why the injury hurts Germany beyond the usual late-squad inconvenience. This was not a teenager along for the ride. It was a player who had played his way into a selection battle and looked capable of contributing once the tournament started.

How Germany are covering the loss

Nagelsmann said: "It doesn't look good. He went to the hospital and will have scans. We have to wait for the diagnosis and see if he can play at the World Cup or if we have to call up a replacement."

That replacement is Assan Ouédraogo, 20, who came in from RB Leipzig. His 7 direct goal contributions last season, 4 goals and 3 assists, explain why Germany moved quickly once Karl went down. It is a sensible patch-up job, but it is still a patch-up job.

Karl's own reaction underlined how sudden the blow was. "I don't even know where to start, but it hurts beyond words to miss the biggest tournament. I did absolutely everything I could to be fit for the World Cup," he said. Germany will have to move on without him, and the attack now looks different before the first ball is even kicked.

If Karl does not recover in time, the record of what he nearly became for this squad will stop at a missed chance and a late call-up elsewhere. If he does recover, Germany still begin the tournament with a thinner right-wing picture than they expected a week ago.

FAQ

Why is Lennart Karl's injury such a big blow for Germany?

Because Karl was not just in the squad for experience. He was Germany's youngest player, had 9 goals and 8 assists in 39 appearances for Bayern München, and was competing with Leroy Sané for a starting spot on the right wing before the injury.

Who replaced Lennart Karl in Germany's World Cup squad?

Assan Ouédraogo was called up from RB Leipzig as Karl's replacement. Julian Nagelsmann said the injury does not look good, with scans and hospital checks determining the next step.

Did Lennart Karl play well before the World Cup injury?

Yes. He started and registered an assist in Germany's 4-0 friendly win over Finland, which helped make him a real option on the right wing before the thigh problem.

Compiled by the ClutchBrief Desk with AI assistance, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →