FRANKFURT, Germany -- Lothar Mattheus, the veteran captain of the German national team, has ruptured his left Achilles tendon and could be facing a possible end to his illustrious career.


"It's shattering, but I am not giving up," the star said after undergoing surgery Thursday in Munich.


Mattheus, 33, suffered the injury in a practice match Wednesday evening with his club Bayern Munich.


"It's a hard blow for the German national team," said coach Berti Vogts.


"I talked to him on the telephone, he was on the way to surgery and he was naturally feeling down. It's a rupture. He will surely miss several months. We have decisive games in front of us," Vogts said.


Germany faces a series of vital qualifying games this year for the 1996 European Championship, including clashes against Bulgaria and Wales.


Mattheus guided Germany to the World Cup title in 1990, and has 122 caps -- three short of the record held by former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton.


Voted world Player of the Year in 1990 and 1991, Mattheus is a veteran of four World Cup tournaments, including last summer's edition in the United States, when Germany reached the quarterfinals.


A midfielder when he started his international career, Mattheus has been playing as sweeper in the national team for the past three seasons.


Vogts declined to say who would take the place of Mattheus as sweeper.


"Right now, my thoughts are with Lothar," he said.


Germany travels to Spain for a friendly Feb. 22.


Mattheus tore his knee ligaments in 1992. Many experts thought his career had come to an end and he was dropped by his team, Internazionale Milan.


But Mattheus returned to Bayern Munich and was back on the field six months later.


His latest injury dealt the second harsh setback to Bayern Munich in as many days. On Wednesday, Bayern's French striker Jean-Pierre Papin underwent knee surgery and will be out for about two months.


In addition, Bulgarian striker Emil Kostadinov, acquired by Bayern during the off-season, is recovering from groin surgery and also could miss some games. Goalkeeper Oliver Kahn has been out since knee surgery in November.


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Tottenham's German striker Jorgen Klinsmann, knocked unconscious in a collision with another player Wednesday night, may recover in time to play this weekend.


Klinsmann lay on the field for four minutes and was taken off on a stretcher after he was kicked in the head by leaping goalkeeper Mark Bosnich in the first half of Tottenham's game at Aston Villa.


"Early indications are that Jorgen has not suffered a break to either his jaw or nose as has been suggested," the Tottenham club said in a statement Thursday. "He is resting today but he will visit the hospital tomorrow for a general checkup as a precaution, and he is expected to be fit for our FA Cup tie at Sunderland on Sunday."


It was the second time this season Klinsmann had been knocked unconscious during a game. He suffered a concussion during his Tottenham debut against Sheffield Wednesday, but returned for the following game.