The great DFB longing of Leroy Sané
Especially when it comes to the German football national team, Leroy Sané has yet to fully showcase his immense potential. His DFB record is disappointing, but he could get a chance to make amends this Friday: in the EURO 2020 quarter-final against Spain.
Dark clouds are gathering ominously over the DFB headquarters in Herzogenaurach. It's not raining, but the weather app predicts rain only for the evening. Yet, an older man at the barriers of the Media Center is undeterred. He wears a 2014 Germany jersey and is on the hunt for autographs - even though there's no chance here. It was supposed to be Thomas Mueller, but instead, it's Leroy Sané who shows up for the press conference. He'd take that too, he says.
Inside, Sané is first available to the journalists. And things get started right away. Yesterday, it was the outside defenders Joshua Kimmich and David Raum who were there. The latter had already made his mark with the cross leading to Niclas Füllkrug's late equalizer against Switzerland. Sané also hopes that he'll soon get his tournament moment. "That's my job, which I also want to fulfill," says the 28-year-old Bayern star. The best time for that would be on Friday against Spain (6 PM/ARDA, MagentaTV and in the ntv.de-Live ticker), in the home EURO 2020 quarter-final.
That would be a special moment in many ways. Earlier, on Facebook, one could indicate a relationship status as "it's complicated." That describes the combination of Leroy Sané and major tournaments with the German football national team quite well. It's hard to believe: For such a talented offensive player who has generated a total transfer fee of 101 million Euros, only one assist at a major tournament has been achieved so far.
Low ignores and despairing
At the EURO 2016, the then 20-year-old Sané only got a brief appearance in the 0:1 semifinal loss against France. The game was already decided, his influence was negligible. The same was true at the Confederations Cup victory a year later. When the DFB team won their last title, Sané shines with absence. He had to withdraw at short notice due to a nasal operation.
At the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Sané didn't even travel with the DFB team to the Quartier in Watutinki, but stayed in Germany instead. National coach Low left the promising winger unexpectedly at home, taking Julian Brandt instead. At the time, Sané was a regular starter with Manchester City and had taken the next step under trainer guru Pep Guardiola, becoming more consistent.
Why Low left him at home back then remains unclear. Sané would have filled a gap in the squad that Low had complained about two years earlier: A tempo-dribbler who quickly and penetratingly over the wings searches for the one-on-one. Some speculated at the time that it was due to domestic politics - Low took Brandt instead, whom he had left at home two years earlier. However, there were also doubts about Sané's supposed lack of attitude and body language.
At the 2021 European Championship, Sané was finally back in action. The previous year, during the first Corona summer, he had transferred from England to FC Bayern, taking time to recover from a cruciate ligament tear. His first EM start was in the third group game against Hungary, where he was supposed to replace the injured Thomas Mueller. He disappointed, even letting Bundestrainer Joachim Loew curse loudly at him. The German team still managed a 2:2 and a place in the round of 16. There, they lost 0:1 against England.
And Sané's story at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar was also quickly told. He missed the 1:2 loss against Japan due to knee problems. In the second game against Spain, the attacker was substituted in at the same time as super sub Niclas Füllkrug, but Füllkrug scored instead of Sané. He got a 90-minute appearance in the last group game against Costa Rica, which ended in a 4:2 win. However, the German team's morale flew home after the victory.
Nagelsmann trusts and hopes
And this time? Will the Home EM 2024 be his tournament? Sané was one of only two players, besides Manuel Neuer, whom the coach gave a special role during the March friendlies. He would not give up on Sané, said Julian Nagelsmann three months ago. He often emphasized the special bond between them. They both knew each other from club days. Nagelsmann also knows that it's not clear which Sané he will get this time: the strong one from the first half of the season, who can be a difference-maker, from FC Bayern, or the unstable one from the second half.
The winger has been laboring with a pelvic bone injury in the past few weeks and months. He explained on the press conference that it's a real hassle, as you can't really protect that area and it's hard to appreciate it. He often felt good before games, but afterwards, it would start to hurt again. Sometimes it took "five, six days" to get better, he said. But he had mostly recovered. It wasn't completely gone, he admitted, but he had no pain anymore. "That's the positive."
So far, it's not Sané's tournament, and no one is leaning out of the window for him. The Bayern star got his playing time in the three group games, but couldn't leave a lasting impression. In the round of 16 against Denmark, he started surprisingly for Florian Wirtz, and Nagelsmann hoped for something that the German team had lacked in the last game: more depth, more tempo, more runs behind the opposing defense line. It worked out okay. Sané showed commitment, wasn't afraid of a sprint, whether offensively or defensively. But his lack of game practice was noticeable, especially in the first half: sometimes he started too early, sometimes too late.
Does he start against Spain as well? He doesn't know yet, says Sane. Against Denmark, he only found out on the match day. "It was good for me again to have a longer playing time. It's been a while." In Nagelsmann's system, he is the fourth force for the three places in the offensive midfield, alongside Bessamer, captain Ilkay Gündogan, and the magicians Jamal Musiala and Wirtz. A Sane in the starting lineup could also be a hint as to what the national team trainer plans against Spain: fast and direct or with a lot of ball possession?
For Sane, however, a decisive goal, a brilliant assist against a big opponent, against whom the German team last won a mandatory game in 1988, that would be a good opportunity to finally have a tournament moment. Then there will certainly be more autograph hunters in front of the DFB headquarters.
Leroy Sane is hoping to get his opportunity to shine with the German national soccer team in the EURO 2024 quarter-final against Spain, which is set to take place on Friday at 6 PM. This would be a significant moment for Sane, who has yet to fully showcase his potential at major tournaments with the team.
In preparation for the EURO 2024, Julian Nagelsmann, the coach of both Bayern Munich and the German national team, has expressed his trust and confidence in Sane. Nagelsmann believes Sane can be a difference-maker in the team, but acknowledges the unpredictable nature of Sane's form, referencing the inconsistency he displayed during the second half of the season.
