Karetsas' rise after health crash to duel against Germany
After a dramatic circulatory collapse in the Champions League duel against FC Villarreal, Konstantinos Karetsas made a surprising return and now faces a double international challenge: he could meet his Dortmund teammates from the German national team twice in the Nations League.
The 18‑year‑old dribbling artist moved in the summer for €30 million from Belgian side KRC Genk to Borussia Dortmund, officially BVB, and was immediately hailed as a major exceptional talent. After an euphoric start in the Bundesliga, he attracted all eyes.
Impressive Bundesliga Start
Karetsas made an impressive debut in his first Bundesliga match, confirming the high expectations attached to the transfer. His debut made Dortmund fans and experts alike rejoice.
In the Champions League match against FC Villarreal, the young striker collapsed due to circulatory problems and had to be rested initially. The incident led to a short break from training.
German media predict three-way points race in Nations League group
Last Saturday evening he returned against VfB Stuttgart, after having missed the game against SC Paderborn the previous week. His comeback was seen by the media as a sign of his rapid recovery.
Selection despite health issues
National team coach Ivan Jovanovic included Karetsas in the official squad of the Greek national team despite the incident and emphasized that he will be at full strength. The 18‑year‑old is expected to be fully fit.
In the upcoming Nations League break, he could face the German side twice – on 27 September in Augsburg and on 4 October in Thessaloniki; so far he has earned ten caps for Greece and scored three goals. He is therefore considered part of a purported golden generation.