Borussia Dortmund attacking midfielder Marco Reus was carried off the field on a stretcher after what appeared to be a severe ankle injury in a Revierderby victory over Schalke 04 on Saturday, 17th September 2022. However, it has just been revealed that the Dortmund captain's hopes of competing in this year's FIFA World Cup are not jeopardized because the degree of his injury was less serious than initially anticipated, and he should be out for only a few weeks at most.
The 33-year-old was helped off the pitch by medical personnel after rolling his ankle in a challenge with Schalke midfielder Florian Flick. It happened just minutes before Youssoufa Moukoko scored the game-winning goal for Dortmund in a 1-0 triumph.
The incident left the ace soccer player in tears, and concerns were raised that Reus, a 48-time starter for Germany, might not be able to make it to the World Cup in Qatar. The Dortmund captain has previously been afflicted with injuries in the lead-up to major international tournaments, and his most recent one was cause for additional concern. After hurting his ankle in a pre-World Cup match in 2014, Reus was unable to contribute to Germany's run to the title.
However, he did see action on the field three times for his country in Russia in 2018. In 2016, Reus suffered a groin injury that prevented him from competing in the European Championship. Concerns were voiced after Reus suffered the recent injury that he may be out for the remainder of the season and therefore unable to participate in the FIFA World Cup, which begins in November. Reus was initially thought to have fractured his leg, but Borussia Dortmund's sporting director Sebastian Kehl said on Sunday that the forward did not sustain any fractures and could return to action in three to four weeks.
"The examinations we did yesterday did not show a fracture but an external ligament injury to the ankle,” Kehl commented on the matter. “It's not so serious that the World Cup is possibly in jeopardy. Marco will be out for three to four weeks and then will be available to us again."
Hansi Flick, Germany's head coach, selected Reus as a member of the national team to play against Hungary and England. Flick expects Reus to play a pivotal role for Germany at the World Cup. On 23rd November at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Germany will take on Japan in the Group E matches.
Germany's next two games will be against Spain on 28th November and Costa Rica on 2nd December at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al-Khor. With Group E consisting of fan favorites to bet on World Cup soccer 2022, the group is set to witness some of the most highly competitive matches as each of the four teams is capable of posing a formidable challenge at the championship.
Dortmund has ten games remaining this season that Reus could return for before Germany's opening Group E match against Japan at the World Cup.
With only three games missed, which included the highly anticipated Champions League match against Sevilla on 5th October and the Bundesliga match against defending champions Bayern Munich, Reus still has a shot at making the German national team for the FIFA World Cup 2022.
After Reus's injury was announced, his followers took to social media to express their consolations and support. Reus quickly responded, expressing gratitude to his supporters for their wishes, and added: "Thank you for your get well wishes. I will be back soon! I will never give up."
Reus has gotten off to an excellent start for Borussia Dortmund this season, contributing to three goals and four assists in just ten games played across all competitions.
