Leroy Sane is in the squad for the last two World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg and Slovakia. However, after clear announcements from the national coach, the winger is under special observation.
If Leroy Sané makes such dazzling sporting appearances as he did in front of the Ritz Carlton in Wolfsburg, he is guaranteed a place in Julian Nagelsmann’s World Cup squad despite the national coach’s tough announcement. No one can match him in terms of fashion. After his compulsory break, the offensive player strolled into the team hotel in two-thirds trousers and with a Gucci handbag football-National team.
2019: Leroy Sané in a polar bear look
Sané smiled and murmured a quick “Thank You” into the camera. The 29-year-old continued his series of fashionable extravagances. Also in Wolfsburg in 2019, he provoked a lot of comments with a colorfully painted polar bear-style fleece jacket.
National player on probation
This time the fashion accent was followed by a non-claused demand from Nagelsmann, which made it clear that bells and whistles or accessories have no relevance. Now only sporting topics matter. The Essen native is only back with the DFB team on probation.
“If we had six or seven players to choose from in that position, then it would be much more difficult for him,” said Nagelsmann. The national coach continued in plain language: “Leroy knows what is required and he also knows that there are no longer countless, many chances to prove yourself at the national team level, at least under my leadership.”
The final World Cup qualifiers in Luxembourg on Friday (8.45 p.m., live in the Sportschau audio report) and against Slovakia the following Monday (8.45 p.m.) in Leipzig will also be a personal decision for Sané about the World Cup ticket.
Nagelsmann as Memoir diplomat
The national coach’s words sound harsh. But they fit his leadership style. The 38-year-old doesn’t just make consistent decisions. He also explains them bluntly and publicly. Nagelsmann operates with a kind of lecture diplomacy. His DFB predecessors Joachim Löw and Hansi Flick showed more player loyalty.
Other professionals have also had to endure the hire-and-fire principle. Mats Hummels was brought back by Nagelsmann as a stabilizer when he joined the DFB two years ago and was sorted out again after only two appearances. Leon Goretzka was given a painful time out for the 2024 European Championship at home.
Jonathan Burkardt was publicly reprimanded after initial training impressions in March and is now back as striker backup for Nick Woltemade. Others, like Marvin Ducksch, Kevin Behrens or, most recently, Nnamdi Collins, were nominated once and never came back.
Sammer complains about too many points of irritation
Dealing with Sané did not help to refute the current zigzag accusation against the national coach from the previous World Cup. Matthias Sammer packaged his most recent general criticism in a kind of old-fashioned advice. Nagelsmann should generally set fewer “stimulus points,” he said on Sky.
Leroy Sané (l.) and Julian Nagelsmann
Lothar Matthäus “would never have left Sané out. As a coach, I have to give the player confidence. Just because you move to Turkey doesn’t mean you are a worse player,” he also said on Sky. When he resigned in August, Sané’s national coach clearly demanded an increase in performance at Galatasaray Istanbul and made it clear that he could not understand the departure from FC Bayern.
Lack of alternatives at the DFB
This proof of form is “not yet 100 percent” achieved after three league goals, but Nagelsmann currently lacks alternative fast wing players. “But he still has steps to take to make things even better, here and in the club,” said Nagelsmann.
Sané always expressed himself diplomatically after the prescribed time out. Praise for the open and good communication with Nagelsmann, with whom he also had his experiences during their time together in Bavaria. Of course he assures that the World Cup remains the goal. It may be the last chance to shine at a major tournament.
Breakthrough in royal blue: Leroy Sané celebrating a goal for SChalke 04 (2015(
Löw surprisingly did not take him into account for the 2018 World Cup, and he was injured in Qatar in 2022. At the 2016 European Championships he was still a rookie, in 2021 he didn’t make a lasting impression and in 2024 he couldn’t justify Nagelsmann’s trust in the quarter-finals against Spain and was substituted for Florian Wirtz at halftime.
No cry for love
Ingratiating oneself and following public opinion has never been Sané’s thing. “I’m not one to say: Give me a little more love,” he told Kicker. So the chapter of Sané and the national team seems like a permanent attempt to finally put two pieces of the puzzle together.
Nobody in the current squad has been there as long as Sané, who made his debut ten years ago in the test against France, which was overshadowed by the night of terror in Paris. Since then he has played 70 international matches. Only Joshua Kimmich (105) has more DFB appearances in the current squad.
Born in Essen, now on the ball for Galatasaray Istanbul: Leroy Sané
The reputation for not making full use of his extraordinary potential has shaped practically his entire career. Sloppy genius, eternal rascal. A walking provocateur with a good mood. These are the labels that attach to the professional who is highly valued by his colleagues. In the working-class city of Wolfsburg he now has to provide evidence to the contrary and convince Nagelsmann.
Our source
