italy s forward Mateo Retegui eyes the ball during the international friendly football match between Italy and Turkey as part of their preparation for the UEFA Euro 2024 European football championships, at the Dall Ara Stadium. AFP
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.
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