A Germany supporter endured a nightmare start to Euro 2024 after a shot from Niclas Fullkrug broke his hand.
Kai Flathmann shelled out €195 (£164) for a front-row seat behind the goal at the Allianz Arena to watch Germany play Scotland in the opening match of the tournament on Friday evening. But he ended up missing the entire game after catching a stray from the boot of Germany striker Fullkrug in the warm-up.
Flathmann was minding his own business but not paying attention when the ball rocketed towards him and left him with a broken hand. He was attended to by medical staff inside Bayern Munich’s stadium and was stretchered to an ambulance, which took him to hospital to assess the injury.
“I sang along to the anthem on a stretcher!” Flathmann told Bild. “I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry! I unfortunately had to give up my dream of watching the opening game! But when do you ever get your hand broken by Fullkrug?
“Luckily, he adjusted in the game and made it 4-0! On Wednesday we will continue in Stuttgart and I will be there to cheer the team from behind the goal again.”
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Germany ran out 5-1 winners in the match and, after his wayward effort in the warm-up, Fullkrug found his shooting boots to score in the second half after coming off the substitutes’ bench. Flathmann was gutted to miss the match, but has vowed to be at Germany’s next game, against Hungary on Wednesday, and has been staggered by the reaction.
“I have no words, crazy things,” Flathmann wrote in a post on Instagram. “Bild is now reporting on this unfortunate incident and the German FA have been in touch with me as well!”
Niclas Fullkrug did manage to find the back of the net after the accident (Getty Images)Fullkrug is behind Arsenal star Kai Havertz in the pecking order in Julian Nagelsmann’s starting line-up but the Borussia Dortmund striker has insisted he is happy to play the role of substitute for the team. “You have to accept the role you have in the team. Of course I gave my opinion, but I’m more or less an employee, the coach is the one who decides,” he said.
“As a young player, you are taught to be competitive almost every day. But we have to remember that this is about something bigger and that we all have a responsibility. Of course everyone wants to play, but now Kai Havertz has my absolute support. I hope he scores a lot of goals because it will take us forward as a team and as a nation. I also see my role as a motivation.”
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