Head injury after collision
©IMAGO
After a violent collision with an opponent and the resulting loss of consciousness, Ireland international Sammie Szmodics was given the all-clear. The Irish association announced that the 30-year-old was taken to hospital with a head injury, but left safely after an observation period.
In the 3-4 penalty shootout against the Czech Republic in the semi-finals of the European World Cup playoffs, Szmodics collided with his opponent Stepan Chaloupek in an aerial duel in extra time. “Sammie was unconscious on the ground, but we have good doctors and they looked after him on the pitch,” said Ireland coach Heimir Hallgrímsson.
The Irish were already 2-0 up in Prague after 23 minutes, but the hosts managed to equalize shortly before the end of regular time. Szmodics came on as a substitute in the 115th minute and was carried off the pitch a few minutes later before the penalty shootout. Hallgrimsson confirmed after the game that Szmodics had been substituted as the designated shooter because of the close penalty shootout – even though he had missed three of his five penalties in his career. Former Stuttgart player Jan Kliment scored the decisive penalty and shot the Czech Republic into the playoff final against Denmark on Tuesday (8:45 p.m./DAZN) in Prague.
“I’m totally disappointed with how it turned out. The fans and the guys were great the whole night,” Szmodics wrote in an Instagram story Friday morning. He thanked the medical team “who acted so quickly to help me. I’m feeling better.” The Derby County professional was treated on the pitch for several minutes before being taken away on a stretcher with a neck brace and a stabilizer around his head.
