Timo Werner will be absent from the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The German striker is just the latest casualty caused by the busy schedule because FIFA scheduled the tournament in Qatar in winter and not in summer, as originally planned.
As a result, matches will now be played from November to December in the middle of a season that has seen compact games to ensure that the organisational level of the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League can conclude in the autumn. The developing wounds for many countries are no wonder and Germany is only the newest country to be affected.
For Werner, the incident occurred on matchday 6 in RB Leipzig’s 4-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk, which secured their passage to the knockout stages. Just 3 minutes after leading teammate Christopher Nkunku 1-0 (10th), Werner sprained his ankle in a duel with Taras Stepanenko. The striker continued but then had to be replaced.
The next day, bitter prognosis. Werner tore his syndesmotic ligament and will be out for the rest of the year and, therefore, also for the World Cup.
“It was a surprise for him and for us,” Leipzig head coach Marco Rose said of the injury on Friday. “It hurts the club when such a vital player is not available. Timo has all the help from all of us and we look ahead until the day he comes back. “
Bundestrainer Hansi Flick also reacted to the news. “This news is very sad,” Flick said sadly. I’m very sorry for Timo personally because I was looking to play in the World Cup. But Timo’s absence is a big loss, especially for the team. We all wish him a speedy recovery. “
The head coach of the national team now faces an attractive problem. Although Werner has sometimes been viewed with controversy by members of the fans, there is no doubt that in his recent form, the striker would have been a member of the team.
Werner has scored nine goals and helped four in 16 games in all competitions this season. More importantly, the 26-year-old has scored two goals and helped in the Champions League and is a vital member of a Leipzig squad that made a beaten resurgence to get out of the organisational stage.
On the surface, Flick will now miss a productive member of the first team. But even with Werner on the plane to Qatar, Flick would have an appeal to resolve. Under Rose in the Leipzig system, Werner played on the left, opposite Nkunku, who also plays on the left but in a more complex role.
In other words, Werner hasn’t played like a typical No. nine this season. But that’s where Flick probably would have covered it up, betting it on a role that probably wouldn’t have allowed Werner and Germany to succeed in Qatar.
Now that Werner will not be going to the tournament, Flick will likely turn to Werder Bremen striker Niclas Füllkrug. In the past, Füllkrug was far from being part of the team, but with Werner absent and extra space available, the centre-back saw his chances considerably.
Füllkrug, however, Maximum Max probably planned as a part-time option. A striker at the entrance to get a late goal for Germany.
The 17-year-old striker has been fit for Dortmund in recent times. Werner’s injury may now be his chance to shine on the big stage, forcing Flick to do the right thing and play the player who has the highest merits to be there and has the maximum productive capacity to occupy a position that has been deserted since the retirement of Miroslav Klose.
Manuel Veth is the host of the Bundesliga Gegenpressing podcast and the US Regional Manager. UU. de Transfermarkt. He has also been in The Guardian, Newsweek, Howler, Pro Soccer USA and several other media outlets. Follow him on Twitter: @ManuelVeth