Zlatko Junuzovic will certainly have imagined a different outcome from his first game at EURO 2016. Not only did the Werder midfielder suffer a 2-0 defeat in Austria’s opening fixture against Hungary, he was also was forced off with an injury. After being examined by doctors on Wednesday evening, it was confirmed that the 28-year old has suffered a partial tear of the lateral collateral ligament in his right ankle.
"You need to assess such an injury on a day by day, or even hour by hour basis. It’s difficult to give an exact prognosis on the healing process. With a bit of luck we can get him back in time for a potential round-of-16 fixture, but ideally a little earlier,” said the ÖFB team doctor Dr. Richard Eggenhofer on the associations homepage.
Junuzovic remains optimistic that his teammates can make it out of the group without him and in spite of the opening defeat to Hungary. “The injury is obviously tough to take, it’s a lot to deal with. But I believe in the boys and that we will do it. Everything is possible and I will do everything I can to get back and be involved,” promised ‘Juno’.
