Ozan Kabak to Miss European Championship Due to Cruciate Ligament Tear

Turkey's defender Ozan Kabak will miss the European Championship after tearing a cruciate ligament in his right knee during a friendly against Italy. The Turkish Football Association confirmed his absence from the Euro 2024 squad. Kabak's Bundesliga club, Hoffenheim, stated that his recovery would take many months.

Turkey defender Ozan Kabak has been ruled out of the European Championship after suffering a cruciate ligament tear in his right knee during a friendly match against Italy, the Turkish Football Association announced on Wednesday.

Kabak sustained the injury following a challenge for the ball with Italy's forward Mateo Retegui shortly before halftime in a game that ended 0-0.

The Turkish federation confirmed Kabak's exclusion from the Euro 2024 squad and did not name a replacement. The 24-year-old, who plays for Bundesliga club Hoffenheim and is a former Liverpool defender, is expected to be in recovery for many months.

Hoffenheim's managing director Alexander Rosen described the news as an “unbelievably bitter piece” and termed it a personal tragedy for Ozan, who had a dream of representing Turkey in Germany for Euro 2024. Turkey will begin its Euro campaign in Group F against Georgia on June 18, followed by games against Portugal and the Czech Republic on June 22 and 26, respectively.