Turkey defender Ozan Kabak out of Euro 2024 after tearing knee ligament against Italy
Turkey's Ozan Kabak is carried injured out of the pitch by medical staff during the international friendly soccer match between Italy and Turkey at the Renato Dall'Ara stadium in Bologna, Italy, Tuesday, June 4, 2024. Credit: AP/Antonio Calanni
BOLOGNA, Italy — Turkey defender Ozan Kabak will miss the European Championship after tearing a cruciate ligament in his right knee in a friendly against Italy, the Turkish Football Association said on Wednesday.
Kabak was injured after challenging Italy forward Mateo Retegui for the ball shortly before halftime in the friendly, which finished 0-0.
The Turkish federation confirmed Kabak was out of its Euro 2024 squad and didn't name a replacement.
The 24-year-old former Liverpool defender plays in the Bundesliga for Hoffenheim, which said he would spend “many months” in recovery.
“This is an unbelievably bitter piece of news and a personal tragedy for Ozan,” Hoffenheim managing director Alexander Rosen said in a statement, adding Kabak dreamed of playing for Turkey in Germany at Euro 2024.
“The fact that this dream has been shattered by such a severe injury just a few days before the opening game of the Euro makes the whole situation all the more dramatic."
Turkey starts its Euro 2024 campaign against Georgia on June 18 in Group F followed by Portugal on June 22 and the Czech Republic on June 26.
Turkey's Ozan Kabak, bottom, grimaces in pain after being injured during the international friendly soccer match between Italy and Turkey at the Renato Dall'Ara stadium in Bologna, Italy, Tuesday, June 4, 2024. Credit: AP/Antonio Calanni
