Nagelsmann praises Ouédroago
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After Lennart Karl’s World Cup exit, DFB President Bernd Neuendorf reported emotional farewell scenes and tears in the national team’s team hotel. Those involved spoke of a “shock” at the news of the serious injury to the 18-year-old, who left Chicago on Friday evening (local time) and had already commented on his World Cup exit on social networks. The nominated Assan Ouédraogo will come directly to the World Cup team headquarters in Winston-Salem.
Offensive player Karl tore a muscle bundle in his left thigh during the final training session for the World Cup dress rehearsal against the USA today (8.30 p.m./RTL) and will be out longer. DFB boss Neuendorf reported a dampening of the atmosphere in the team a good week before the World Cup opener on June 14th in Houston against Curaçao. “It dampens the mood a bit, I have to say. He was really on top of his game in the last few games and gave us a lot of fun,” said the 64-year-old about Karl.
It should also be his world championship. Karl wanted to create magic on the biggest stage that football has to offer. The FC Bayern Munich teen star was on the verge of dribbling and shooting his way into the first eleven during the national team’s tournament preparation. Until his dreams of a personal summer fairy tale in Chicago suddenly shattered – nine days before the first World Cup group game against Curaçao. Julian Nagelsmann spoke of “a big shock” for everyone in the DFB squad – and especially for “Lenny”. The final training for the World Cup dress rehearsal against the USA on Saturday evening thwarted all of Karl’s big plans. Ouédraogo (20) from Leipzig is moving into the 26-man squad to replace the 1.68 meter short offensive player.
World Cup out for Lennart Karl: Professionals feel for DFB youngster
The psychological pain is likely to be far greater than that in the muscles. It will heal in a few weeks. Karl should be fit again by the start of the Bundesliga at the end of August. But a World Cup only happens every four years, so it won’t be until 2030. “It just hurts indescribably to have to miss the biggest tournament,” Karl wrote in his first reaction on Instagram. “Unfortunately, injuries often come at the most unfortunate time. I wish my team maximum success and of course I support them every minute! I’ll come back stronger, I promise”
Karl’s post on Instagram quickly gathered thousands of comments, including many German national players such as Jamal Musiala, Nick Woltemade and Antonio Rüdiger, as well as Bayern colleagues such as Michael Olise and Dayot Upamecano or the Swiss Granit Xhaka. His fate shocked his colleagues.
Nagelsmann after Karl-Aus: “Still has many tournaments ahead of him”
Karl’s meteoric rise in his first professional season and after the first two international matches in March seemed to continue seamlessly at the XXL tournament in America. And that after a muscle injury in the other thigh, which seemed to slow Karl down in April. “I’m incredibly sorry for Lenny. With his carefree nature, his wit, his pace and as a guy, he fit into the team really well,” said Nagelsmann, who added in an association statement: “It’s only a small consolation that he is young and still has many tournaments ahead of him.”
The national coach now has to think quickly. In all likelihood, Nagelsmann would have had the courage to put World Cup newcomer Karl in an offensive line with Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz. The 18-year-old was in the starting line-up for the first time in the 4-0 win against Finland in Mainz a few days ago – and with his playfulness and speed on the right wing he finally overtook Leroy Sané. The 30-year-old, one of the most experienced in the DFB squad with 75 international matches, could personally benefit from Karl’s bad luck. That’s how business is. In the last World Cup test against the USA, Sané is now the focus. For Nagelsmann and the team, Karl is the second bitter offensive failure after Serge Gnabry.
Ouédraogo instead of El Mala: “Incredibly, exceptionally good player”
The young Cologne star Said El Mala would have been conceivable as a replacement. Or Chris Führich from Stuttgart. Nagelsmann chose Ouédraogo. The 20-year-old attacking midfielder from RB Leipzig is also considered a gem. Problem: Ouédraogo repeatedly suffers injuries at a young age. In the 6-0 win at the end of the World Cup qualification against Slovakia, he scored a goal on his international debut in November 2025 – in Leipzig’s home stadium. Immediately afterwards he was injured again.
Nagelsmann is a fan of the player. This became immediately clear again in the DFB video about the subsequent nomination. “Assan, unfortunately, despite your young age, you already have a very, very long injury history. Nevertheless, you have always fought back and are an incredibly, exceptionally good, talented player,” says Nagelsmann about the boy who replaces Karl.