National team
Setback for Füllkrug: Another injury and time out
Injured again: Niclas Füllkrug has to watch West Ham United and the national team. What does this mean for the striker’s chances at the 2026 World Cup?
Niclas Füllkrug has missed a possible call-up for the World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg and Northern Ireland due to another injury. As national coach Julian Nagelsmann told the ARD “Sportschau” before the game against Luxembourg in Sinsheim, the attacker tore a muscle bundle in his thigh.
The 32-year-old international soccer player was injured this week during training at his club West Ham United. He will have to take another break for several weeks. Nagelsmann noted that he wanted to nominate the center forward as a player with strong aerial ability as a potential replacement for Nick Woltemade, who was weakened by a flu-like infection until mid-week. He did not include Fülkrug in his original squad.
International appearances only in June
For the former Dortmund player, the new injury is the next setback. This year he was only used in two international matches in June at the Nations League final tournament as a joker against Portugal (1:2) and for 90 minutes against France (0:2). Last year, a persistent calf injury slowed him down. Before the start of the World Cup qualifiers in September in Slovakia (0-2), he had to pass again due to injury.
Füllkrug was last in the starting line-up at West Ham in London in the Premier League, but did not score a goal. Given the diagnosis, it is unlikely that the attacker will be available for the last international matches of the year in Luxembourg and against Slovakia in November.
dpa
