Christoph Baumgartner Misses World Cup After Muscle Injury

Austrian midfielder Christoph Baumgartner will miss the upcoming World Cup after sustaining a muscle injury. The Austrian Football Federation (ÖFB) announced the injury on Tuesday following a warm‑up session in Vienna before a friendly against Tunisia. Baumgartner plays as an attacking midfielder for RB Leipzig. He has been one of Austria's most prominent attacking options in recent internationals. The injury occurred last night when he felt a sharp pain in his right thigh while taking a shot during the warm‑up. Medical assessment identified a muscle strain that rules him out of the tournament. Austria must now revise its World Cup squad without Baumgartner. The absence removes a key creative outlet from the team's forward line. Coach will look to other midfielders to fill the void. Baumgartner will concentrate on rehabilitation with the aim of returning to club duties.