When will we see Franz Wagner from Berlin in action again at the World Cup? His ankle injury is proving to be extremely persistent Photo: picture alliance/ AP
From BZ/dpa
An ankle injury has plagued Franz Wagner since the basketball World Cup kicked off. His return to Asia is being postponed again and again.
The German basketball hope Franz Wagner threatens to miss the national team in the decisive phase of the World Cup in Asia. The 22-year-old Orlando Magic professional was unable to complete a full training session with contact in Manila on Monday, like the national coach Gordon Herbert said the evening after the loose unit. It is questionable whether it will be enough for the quarter-finals against Latvia on Wednesday (10.45 a.m.).
“We’ll have to look at that tomorrow. We look from day to day. We need to see how his ankle feels. From there we have to look further. It’s a process,” Herbert said of the hopeful, who has already missed four World Cup games.
National coach Gordon Herbert does not know when his youngster will be able to play again Photo: picture alliance/ Veso Moilanen
Herbert didn’t seem really confident. The 64-year-old head coach had said repeatedly in the past few days that Wagner had to complete a full session before a World Cup appearance.
Wagner was seen taking shots at Manila’s Mall of Asia Arena. He already looked more mobile than in the previous week. However, the longer and longer break also seems to affect the young star mentally.
“He wants to play. He’s quite frustrated and disappointed that he can’t play. He really wants to come back,” said Herbert. Wagner has only been on the floor in the 81:63 opening win against hosts Japan. In that game, he was injured in the final quarter when Germany was already clearly in the lead.