The loss of Lennart Karl continues to cause great consternation in German soccer. Following the official confirmation of the Bayern talent’s withdrawal from the World Cup, Lothar Matthäus has now also spoken out. The record international sees the loss of the 18-year-old as a bitter setback for the German national team
Lennart Karl will miss the 2026 World Cup after the diagnosis of a torn muscle bundle in his left thigh ended the attacking player’s hopes of playing in his first major international tournament
The injury is particularly bitter for the Bayern youngster, as he had developed into one of the biggest winners under national coach Julian Nagelsmann in recent months and played his way to the fore with strong performances
In particular, his convincing performance in the 4-0 win against Finland had significantly increased his chances of a place in the starting line-up, making it all the more of a shock when Karl suffered a serious injury in the final training session before the last World Cup test against the USA
Lothar Matthäus was also deeply affected by the news
Matthäus: „It shocked me“
The record international had already spoken positively about Karl on several occasions in recent weeks and highlighted his development. His disappointment was all the greater now
„It shocked me and I’m very sorry for the boy. It’s also a great sporting loss for Julian Nagelsmann and the team. Lennart Karl did very well,“ Matthäus explained in an interview with Kerry Hau
The TV pundit sees Karl’s loss not only as a personal setback for the player, but also as a sporting setback for the German national team
The 18-year-old’s dribbling skills, his recklessness and his creativity could have given the DFB team additional options in attack. Such qualities are often of crucial importance, especially in tight games against deep-lying opponents
Despite all the disappointment, Matthäus also looked to the future of the Bayern talent
„But he still has many opportunities, many tournaments ahead of him, which can make him stronger,“ emphasized the 1990 world champion
Bayern are now also rescheduling
The DFB has already responded to the loss in sporting terms by nominating another top talent, Assan Ouedraogo, to provide fresh impetus in the future
Nevertheless, it is clear internally that Karl is missing a player who had recently carved out an important place for himself within the team, meaning the German national team is losing an additional creative option in attack
FC Bayern are also keeping a close eye on the effects of the injury and, as things stand, Karl is likely to be out for several weeks
In many cases, a torn muscle bundle in the thigh can lead to an absence of between two and three months, and as the youngster has already had to contend with muscular problems, particular care will need to be taken during his rehabilitation
As a result, Karl will in all likelihood also miss the start of the summer preparations. FC Bayern begin their preparations for the new season on 20 July. Whether the attacking player will be fully fit again by then is currently questionable
In the best-case scenario, a return for the Bundesliga opener could be possible, but a reliable prognosis cannot yet be made
What is already certain, however, is that both the German national team and FC Bayern will have to do without a player in the coming weeks who many experts believe has a great future. The words of Lothar Matthäus impressively demonstrate the impression Lennart Karl has already made despite his young age.