As goalkeepers, we all looked on in horror as we watched not one but two goalkeeping howlers by Liverpool’s Karius in the Champions League Final. If you didn’t see them, I firstly have to question where have you been? Secondly, here is the video below
I’m not going to desect the errors here, but the inspiration for me to update this original article from 2006 was the fact that it has recently come to light that the Liverpool goalkeeper has been diagnosed as concussed.
The concussion likely happened during a collision with Madrid’s Sergio Ramos in the 48th minute. It was only two minutes later that Real Madrid scored its first goal when Karius tried to roll the ball out to a defender, only to have Madrid striker Karim Benzema stick out his foot and redirect the throw into the net.
A concussion is a traumatic brain injury from a direct blow to the head that affects brain function. Regarding Karius, Mass General said in a statement: “At the time of our evaluation, Mr. Karius’s principal residual symptoms and objective signs suggested that visual spatial dysfunction existed and likely occurred immediately following the event. Additional symptomatic and objectively noted areas of dysfunction also persisted. It could be possible that such deficits would affect performance.”
The question we have to ask, is did Karius play on knowing that he had the concussion symptoms of headaches, confusion, a feeling of pressure on the head, dizziness, ringing in the ears, nausea, vomiting, slurred speech and fatigue?
I’m sure no one would want to admit being injured half way through the most prestigious game of your life, but the consecuences are there for all to see. Karius may never play for Liverpool again and will always be known as the goalkeeper that made two howlers in the Champions League Final.
See below for the original article where England goalkeeper, Jack Butland also played on after an injury.
April, 2016 –
Having recently watched a very entertaining international friendly between Germany and England, the one stand out was the manor in which Germany scored their first goal.
England goalkeeper, Jack Butland was hoping to stake his claim for a Euro 2016 spot by playing for England in the absence of established Number 1 Joe Hart, but Butland suffered an injury when going to ground to collect the ball in the 41st minute. He pulled up visibly after kicking a back pass two minutes later.
The Stoke goalkeeper did not signal to the England bench after sustaining the injury and his poor kick out was pounced upon by Germany, who took the lead through a long-range shot that beat Butland at his near post. The goal was obviously a result of Butland being concerned about his injury and then not being able to spring off correctly.
After the goal and with the England goalkeeper being in some pain, he was stretchered off.
See highlights of the game below, which shows how the injury happened after the goal is scored.
England coach Roy Hodgson said after the England win “Let’s keep these players’ feet on the ground. Let’s keep them humble. Let’s keep them hungry to learn from their mistakes so that, next time Jack Butland is injured, he goes down and makes sure he receives treatment rather than allowing the game to play on.”
This is a lesson we can all learn from.