Džeko played 120 minutes in the World Cup qualifying playoff final against Italy, using his experience to help the Dragons secure their ticket to the upcoming summer World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. However, in the 120th minute of that match, he suffered an unfortunate shoulder injury, though it appears not serious enough to sideline him for the rest of the season. What is known, and confirmed by his club Schalke, is that he will miss the next match against Karlsruher on Sunday. Schalke has seven matches remaining in the 2. Bundesliga this season, and the team is fighting with all its might for promotion to the top tier. In a match preview on the club’s website, Džeko mentioned that the international break might have come at a good time for some players to rest from football duties. "Those few days off that the guys got can sometimes be very important. To step away from football a bit, spend a little more time with family, and forget about all the pressure on us, so to speak," said Džeko. Ahead of him are seven finals. With the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team, he achieved historic success, and now he turns his focus to Schalke in the fight for another major achievement and a return to the Bundesliga. "Of course, we all know what these next seven matches mean for us and the club. The guys are here, they are ready. I have no fear at all, and honestly, even though I won’t be on the field on Sunday, I am with the guys and can’t wait for the match to start," said Džeko, who joined Schalke as a free agent this winter after parting ways with Fiorentina. After 27 matches, Schalke sits at the top of the popular "Zweite," but with only one point more than second-placed Elversberg and third-placed Paderborn. Breathing down their necks are Darmstadt, two points behind, and Hannover, three points behind. All teams have very realistic chances of reaching the Bundesliga, but only the top two teams will secure a spot in the elite tier. Additionally, the third-placed team will enter a playoff.