A Germany fan preparing to watch the host nation’s opening clash with Scotland on Friday evening had his hand fractured by a loose shot from Niclas Fullkrug and missed the game altogether.
Die Mannschaft were on electrifying for in the Euro 2024 curtain-raiser, quickly snatching the lead from a gobsmacked Scotland side and later benefitting from a rash challenge by Ryan Porteous which reduced the Tartan Army to 10 men.
Germany ended up claiming the tie 5-1 and emerging as a force to be reckoned with on home soil.
But one avid follower of the national team saw the competition’s first tie from an entirely different location to the one he had planned – inside the Allianz Arena.
Kai Flathmann had found himself a ticket behind the goal – to the tune of €195 (164) – but was taken out of action during the national team’s warm-up after he was felled by Fullkrug’s pre-match preparations.
Kai Flathmann was unable to watch Germany’s 5-1 rout of Scotland to open Euro 2024
The national team fan fell victim to a rogue shooting attempt by Niclas Fullkrug warming up
Flathmann was quickly taken to hospital and assessed, later posting on Instagram after the final whistle.
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‘All for the title (strong arm emoji),’ Flathmann wrote on the social media site. ‘Unfortunately, I could no longer watch the game live from row 1.
‘While warming up, I was hit by Niclas Fullkrug’s shot. We then went to the hospital where unfortunately a fracture was discovered.
‘But luckily he adjusted his (aim) and made it 4:0 (thumbs up emojis).
‘We’ll continue in Stuttgart on Wednesday and I’ll be cheering on the team behind the goal again.’
Fullkrug was introduced to the match as a second-half subsitute and quickly made his presence felt with a bulleted strike which bypassed Scottish goalkeeper Angus Gunn at a terrifying speed of nearly 70mph.
The Borussia Dortmund striker was the first of Julian Nagelsmann’s late introductions to find the back of the net, with club team-mate Emre Can scoring to cap a superlative Germany performance.
The Borussia Dortmund striker will be sending Flathmann a signed Germany jersey to say sorry
Scotland know how lethal Fullkrug’s lashed strike can be after the forward put the hosts 4-0 up
Germany recorded the highest opening-match win in tournament history and will confidently go on to face Hungary on Wednesday
Recounting the unexpected turn of events to BILD, the national team fan club member shared how he had eventually watched the match from his mobile phone.
‘I sang along to the anthem on the stretcher,’ Flathmann said. ‘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?’
In response to Flathmann’s story going viral, the German national team are set to send him a signed Fullkrug jersey as well as a message of support – ahead of his return to the stands to watch Germany take on Hungary on Wednesday in their second group-stage fixture.
