A German fan is receiving an apology and a signed shirt from Niclas Fullkrug after his left hand broken by a wayward shot from the striker.
Kai Flathmann was sitting to the side of the goal ahead of his team’s 5-1 demolition of Scotland when he was hit by an effort from Fuellkrug which went wide of the target.
He paid €195 (£165) for a front row ticket at the Allianz Arena on Friday but ended up watching the game on his mobile phone from a hospital bed.
The 43-year-old, from Bremerhaven, will be back behind the goal in Stuttgart on Wednesday to watch Julian Nagelsmann’s side battle Hungary in their second Group A game.
Flathmann told German newspaper Bild: “I sang along to the anthem on the stretcher!
“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?”
Although his left hand was fractured, doctors said he would not need surgery, leaving him free to attend the Hungary game with a heavily bandaged hand and his arm in a sling.
“I have no words, crazy things,” Flathmann said on social media alongside a picture of him from hospital.
“Bild is now reporting on this unfortunate incident and the German FA have been in touch with me as well!”
During the match, substitute Fullkrug made it 4-0 in the 68th minute with the goal of the night, an unstoppable drive lashed into the top corner from 16 yards.
