National soccer player Timo Werner is out for the World Cup tournament in Qatar, which begins in three weeks, due to a ruptured syndesmosis ligament in his left ankle. As RB Leipzig announced on Thursday, Werner will not be able to play until the end of the year due to the injury. Werner was fouled by Taras Stepanenko in the 14th minute of the 4-0 win in the final Champions League group game in Warsaw against Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday and had to be replaced a few minutes later.
“I’m very, very sorry for the boy,” said Schachtar coach Igor Jovicevic to the SZ when he heard about the news on the way to Lviv, Ukraine. The club initially said that the injury might not be serious. “This news is very bitter. I’m very sorry for Timo personally because he’s missing out on the World Cup that he really wanted to play. But Timo’s absence is a great loss, especially for the team. We all wish him now that he quickly fit again,” said national coach Hansi Flick.
Werner underwent another examination in Leipzig on Thursday, which revealed the severity of the injury. The news is a hard blow for the 26-year-old. After two rather disappointing years at Chelsea, Werner returned to Leipzig in the summer. In a familiar environment, the attacker played for the Saxons from 2016 to 2020, Werner wanted to gain match practice and self-confidence for the World Cup.
National coach Hansi Flick also welcomed the transfer and described Werner as an asset to the Bundesliga. Most recently, he had defended the attacker against criticism. “Timo Werner is always viewed very critically. He scored the most goals in the last few games. If Miro Klose had done it earlier, everyone would have been thrilled,” said the national coach on MagentaTV.
In the past few weeks, the Swabian has actually found his form again. Three goals in the last three league games and goals in the Champions League at Celtic Glasgow and against Real Madrid not only made the player happy, but also Flick, who was not blessed with many strikers. With Werner’s exit, Bremen’s Niclas Füllkrug’s chances of participating in Qatar could increase. The 29-year-old is the best striker in the Bundesliga with nine goals.