Christoph Kramer has admitted he cannot remember anything about his performance in the World Cup final after he suffered a head injury early in the first half of the victory over Argentina.
The Borussia Mönchengladback midfielder was a late replacement for Sami Khedira, who was injured in the warm-up before the game at the Maracanã. Kramer collapsed to the ground following a sickening collision after 19 minutes with Ezequiel Garay when his jaw smashed into the Argentinian defender’s shoulder. The 23-year-old had lengthy treatment before being allowed to carry on.
But, obviously groggy, he was replaced after 31 minutes by André Schürrle, who was to set up Mario Götze’s winning goal in extra-time.
“I can’t remember that much from the game,” Kramer said. “I don’t know anything from the first half. I thought later that I went straight off after the incident. How I got to the changing rooms I do not know. I don’t know anything else. The game, in my head, starts only in the second half.”
The incident involving Kramer, who was playing his first competitive game for Germany, led Fifpro, the world players’ union, to accuse Fifa of failing to protect players during the World Cup with its treatment of concussion.
