Nagelsmann Concerned for Teen Star Karl After Training Injury

Germany’s World Cup preparations were jolted in Chicago as Julian Nagelsmann admitted teenage forward Karl is a serious doubt for the tournament after suffering an injury in training.

The 18-year-old, one of the breakout stars of Bayern Munich’s title-winning campaign under Vincent Kompany, was sent to hospital for scans, leaving the national coach visibly concerned on the eve of Saturday’s friendly against the United States.

“To be honest, it didn't look good. He's going to the hospital now to get a scan done,” Nagelsmann said, outlining the gravity of the situation without disclosing the exact nature of the problem.

Germany had arrived in the United States treating this final warm-up as a tune-up, not a test of their depth. Karl’s setback changes the mood.

“We need to process the situation first, and so does he,” Nagelsmann added. “We need a diagnosis in order to do that. Then we'll see whether or not we call up a replacement.”

For Karl, the timing could hardly be crueller. He only made his top-flight debut this season but forced his way into Kompany’s plans and then into Nagelsmann’s. Dynamic and fearless, he became a symbol of the new wave driving Bayern’s Bundesliga triumph.

That surge of momentum carried him into the national team, where he started his first game for Germany in Sunday’s 4-0 win over Finland in Mainz, marking the occasion with an assist. It looked like the beginning of a World Cup story. Now, it might end before the plane even leaves.

Neuer Held Back, But World Cup Return Still on Track

Nagelsmann’s selection puzzle does not end with Karl. He also confirmed that Manuel Neuer will miss the clash with the United States as the veteran goalkeeper continues his push toward full fitness.

The 2014 World Cup winner, brought back into the squad in May almost two years after announcing his international retirement, remains central to Nagelsmann’s plans. The coach still expects him to be ready for Germany’s opening World Cup match against Curacao on June 14.

“At his age, he doesn't need a warm-up phase,” Nagelsmann said of Neuer. “He knows how to handle high-pressure situations.

“He’s on his way to peak fitness. However, we don't want to take any risks tomorrow.”

So Germany head into their final rehearsal without their returning goalkeeping icon and with a cloud hanging over their brightest young forward.

The friendly in Chicago was supposed to sharpen details. Instead, it may force Nagelsmann into early, decisive calls that shape the entire campaign.