Leroy Sane, the most talented dribbler Germany has recently produced, won’t be on display at Russia 2018. If the dynamic 22-year-old winger, whose Manchester City exploits earned him2017-18 PFA Young Player of the Year, was on the brink of bringing his outstanding club form to Die Mannschaft, Coach Joachim Loew didn’t believe so.
Sane was by the most controversial decision made by Loew when, after Saturday’s 2-1 friendly loss to Austria, he pared down his 27-player roster to 23 by alsodropping goalkeeper Bernd Leno (after Manuel Neuer was deemed fit), defender Jonathan Tah and striker Nils Petersen,
Sane scored 10 English Premier League goals and assisted on 15 this past season. As
If Germany’s offense stutters in Russia, fansare sure to recall Sane’s exceptional ability to beat players one-on-one.
Without a doubt, Sane has not in 12 appearances (zero goals, oneassist) for Germany replicated the form he’s reached under Coach Pep Guardiola. But while many would have believed it’s just a matter of time that Sane, the EPL’s fastest player,would excel for his national team, Loew didn’t think it would happen in Russia.
“Leroy has absolutely huge talent,” said Loew. “But he’s not really arrived yet in his games for the nationalteam.”
Sane missed 2017 Confederations Cup to undergo nasal surgery while Brandt starred for the young German squad that lifted the title. German media reported that Loew would have preferredif Sane postponed the surgery and Loew left Sane out of the next two World Cup qualifying games. But Loew denies that there were any off-field issues contributing to his decision leave Sane off theWorld Cup roster.
“There’s absolutely no problem off the field,” Loew said. “Leroy has conducted himself correctly and very professionally. But we had to make a decision because the squad hasto be balanced. … We could not drop a defender to add another attacking player.
Loew cited the 22-year-old Brandt’s strong games at the Confederations Cup and good performances in trainingcamp.
“Leroy Sane is a huge talent,” he said, “no doubt, and he will be back with the team in September.”
Germany World CupRoster
GOALKEEPERS: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona/ESP), Kevin Trapp (Paris SG/FRA).
DEFENDERS: JeromeBoateng (Bayern Munich), Matthias Ginter (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Jonas Hector (FC Cologne), Mats Hummels (Bayern Munich), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Marvin Plattenhardt (Hertha Berlin),Antonio Ruediger (Chelsea/ENG), Niklas Suele (Bayern Munich).
MIDFIELDERS/FORWARDS: Julian Brandt (Bayer Leverkusen), Julian Draxler (Paris SG/FRA), Mario Gomez (VfB Stuttgart),Leon Goretzka (Schalke 04), Ilkay Guendogan (Man. City/ENG), Sami Khedira (Juventus/ITA), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid/ESP), Thomas Mueller (Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal/ENG), Marco Reus (BorussiaDortmund).
Leroy Sane beats five Newcastle players to help Sergio Aguero score his 11th Man City hat trick:
Must have been a difficult decision to make.
As long as Germany repeats as finalists, it won’t matter. But if they come up short, and need a goal off the bench, Brandt is not the guy to do it. National team coach chooses team chemistry over player skills/potential contribution–Loew must be very confident in his squad.
Loew is right. It is all about BALANCE. 10 Pele’s does not make a good team. Cruyff in his second year as coach was faced with the same dilemma. Vanenburg, the most popular and most talented player in Holland and the most exciting attacking Ajax player since Cruyff, was sold to PSV. He was replaced by Jan Wouters,a midfielder, a nobody who didn’t have half the skills of a Vanenburg. Ajax fans went nuts to see their most talented and most exciting player of Holland go. It was all about BALANCE for Cruyff knew his team became much stronger and ended up winning the European cup that year.
R2, explain to me what I was suppose to look up in the Urban dictionary.
Did you read the” WHAT THEY’RE SAYING”…today..
Red Bulls open first of many mini soccer fields in Newark as part of after-school program – ROI-NJ
This what we call” Cruyff courts’ in holland
/S, indicating Sarcasm….
R2, sorry, I thought it was a typo. LOL. ..i’m more familiar with the <sarc>. Hey, I don’t keep with all the new terminologies