The gruesome injury cost Dragowski the World Cup

Bartlomiej Dragowski, Wojciech Szczesny’s replacement in the Polish national team, will miss the World Cup in Qatar after suffering a serious injury to his right ankle in the Serie A match he played today with Spezia against Verona.

The transfer took place in the 39th minute of the first half on the last day of Serie A before the World Cup. Dragowski, 25 years old and seemingly set to join the Espanyol in the summer, left the area to cut off Kevin Lasagna’s advances. He did so by sending the ball out of the field but seriously injured his right leg when he collided with the striker.

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Dragowski was left lying on the grass complaining of pain, while his teammates quickly called for the player’s help when they noticed how his ankle was unnaturally bent.

The Polish goalkeeper broke down in tears and, after being removed on a stretcher, was taken by ambulance to a hospital to the cheers of fans present at the Bentegodi stadium in Verona.

Grabara, his relief in the appeal for Poland

Although initial tests seem to rule out a fracture, Dragowski will miss the World Cup and this afternoon Polish coach Czeslaw Michniewicz, immediately called up Kamil Grabara, FC Copenhagen goalkeeper, to cover his absence in squad.

Poland, with Robert Lewandowski as figure, will face Mexico (November 22), Saudi Arabia (November 26) and Argentina (November 30) in the first stage of the World Cup.

At the time of Dragowski’s injury, Thiago Motta’s Spezia trailed 1-0, but after the break a brace from M’bala Nzola at minute 53 and 69′ turned the score around (1-2). The Angolan forward scored his second goal showing off a Dragowski shirt he wore at the end of the match to celebrate the victory with his fans.

The rest of his teammates also dedicated the victory to Dragowski, all of whom posed with his shirt after the match.