Why Austria’s Stefan Posch is wearing a mask against Argentina at the World Cup
The defender suffered a fractured jaw in Austria’s opening World Cup match but was cleared to face Argentina with special protection.
Austria defender Stefan Posch caught the attention of viewers when he took the field wearing a black protective face mask for Monday’s World Cup clash with Argentina.
The two teams met at Dallas Stadium in their second Group J match after both opened the tournament with victories. But before kickoff, many fans were left wondering why the Mainz defender was sporting unusual facial protection.
What happened to Posch?
Posch suffered a fractured jaw during Austria’s opening 3-1 win over Jordan. The defender was forced off after a heavy collision with the opposing goalkeeper, and subsequent examinations confirmed the injury.
Despite the fracture, Posch avoided surgery, allowing Austria’s medical staff to focus on finding a way to keep him available for the remainder of the group stage.
Why is he wearing a mask?
According to Austrian broadcaster ORF, Posch has been cleared to play while wearing a specially designed protective mask intended to shield the injured area.
The mask was designed in Los Angeles and manufactured in Phoenix before being delivered to Austria’s camp in time for the Argentina game.
Austria head coach Ralf Rangnick had already suggested before the match that Posch could feature against the reigning world champions, provided he was able to wear facial protection. The defender was ultimately declared fit and returned straight to the starting lineup despite the injury.
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