German Criticism of Leroy Sané's Selection with the National Team

The inclusion of Leroy Sane in Germany's squad for the 2026 World Cup sparked widespread controversy after German football legend Lothar Matthäus publicly criticized the decision, stating that he would not have included the player in the squad.

Matthäus said, "Personally, I wouldn't have included Sané in the squad." He added, commenting on his recent statistics with the national team, "The numbers look good, but against whom did we play?" referring to matches against Luxembourg, Slovakia, Switzerland, and Ghana. He also emphasized that delivering a big game every six or seven matches is not enough to secure a spot on the World Cup roster.

Matthäus also criticized Sane's situation at the club level, explaining that the player does not participate regularly even with Galatasaray. He said, "He has fallen far short of expectations. Sometimes the fans chant his name, but overall there is a sense of dissatisfaction with his performance."

On his part, the German national team coach Julian Nagelsmann defended his decision, explaining that Sane contributed five goals in the last four international matches. He said, "His statistics with the club are not high enough, but I must also evaluate what he offers with us in the national team."

He added: "His speed and skills can make a difference against teams that defend deeply, and I am confident in my ability to bring out the best in him, so opinions about him change after the World Cup."