Attacking midfielder Leroy Sane was a surprise omission from Joachim Loew's final Germany squad for the World Cup finals on Monday as goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was named among the 23 players heading to Russia for the defending champions.
Neuer made the squad despite playing in just one official game, a friendly against Austria on Friday, since breaking a bone in his foot in September but talented 22-year-old Sane was the biggest name to miss out.
BREAKING: Manchester City forward Leroy Sane left out of Germany's World Cup squad. #SSN pic.twitter.com/eFdtZQplND
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) June 4, 2018
The Manchester City midfielder, goalkeeper Bernd Leno, forward Nils Petersen and defender Jonathan Tah were the four players that failed to make the cut.
Leroy Sane - a man with these numbers - has been left out of Germany's World Cup squad.
— Goal UK (@GoalUK) June 4, 2018
How good must they be?! #MCFC #Ger https://t.co/LgnE7UmNU2 pic.twitter.com/hCTK3uLb82
Germany captain Neuer, who won the World Cup four years ago, will also be their first choice keeper for the tournament, ahead of designated number two Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Kevin Trapp.
Loew announced his squad at the end of a training camp at the Italian Alps. The Germans play their last warm-up game against Saudi Arabia in Leverkusen on Friday before the start of the tournament on June 14.
Wow.
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) June 4, 2018
Leroy Sane has been left out of Germany's 23-man World Cup squad.
? https://t.co/j0IgZnflqu pic.twitter.com/kYgz7d5Qap
Germany are in Group F along with Sweden, Mexico and South Korea.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona), Kevin Trapp (Paris St Germain).
Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Matthias Ginter (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Jonas Hector (Cologne), Mats Hummels (Bayern Munich), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Marvin Plattenhardt (Hertha Berlin), Antonio Ruediger (Chelsea), Niklas Suele (Bayern Munich).
Midfielders: Julian Brandt (Bayer Leverkusen), Julian Draxler (Paris St Germain), Leon Goretzka (Schalke 04), Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City), Sami Khedira (Juventus), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Thomas Mueller (Bayern Munich), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Sebastian Rudy (Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal).
Forwards:
Mario Gomez (VfB Stuttgart), Timo Werner (RB Leipzig).
BREAKING: Leroy Sane has not been included in Germany’s World Cup squad ?? pic.twitter.com/XX0quG4rHl
— B/R Football (@brfootball) June 4, 2018