“I decide whether he took his chance or not,” Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann had said before Germany’s 2-0 win over Luxembourg.
Eighty minutes later, the verdict on Leroy Sané’s return to the Germany team was in.
“He had two good moments that led to goals,” Nagelsmann told RTL afterwards. “The first goal is exceptionally worked. His touch is brilliant and to play the cross so quickly on his right foot is really strong. He had a good game and that’s what it’s about.”
Nagelsmann had spent much of the week facing questions about the selection of Leroy Sané, with many fans and some parts of the media not particularly thrilled with the winger’s return to the squad.
Nagelsmann admitted that Sané doesn’t have “countless opportunities anymore” but that he was a “really cool cookie” who handles pressure really well. And in his 71st cap, the 29-year-old showed exactly why he is still very much a winger that can decide a game.
Sané makes his mark
Shortly after the restart, Sané timed his run down the right behind the run of the defender perfectly. His first touch had to be perfect to make the most of the space ahead of him, and it was. The cross that followed made sure Nick Woltemade stayed onside, as it curled back into him, arriving right in stride for the Newcastle striker to give Germany the lead. A sprint, a touch and a pass — it was everything about Sané that makes him so watchable.
He was involved in the second goal too, with a smart pass inside that started the move. His ability to cut inside nearly ended in a goal of his own too, but his radar was slightly off.
“I’m really excited to be back. It’s great fun and always an honor to represent your own country,” Sané said afterwards.
“Julian knows me very well and knows how I tick as a person. He also gives me a lot of love and a lot of toughness in between, so it works out pretty well.”
This was the first time Sané has been picked for his country since he joined Turkish team Galatasaray in the summer. He last featured for Germany in the loss to Portugal in the Nations League Final Four in the summer.
Sané’s one moment of brilliance, the reliability of Oliver Baumann and the increasingly dependable composure of Woltemade proved the only real highlights on an otherwise inauspiscious night for Germany. The Newcastle striker even said afterwards, “I know this game wasn’t a treat to watch, but we got the three points and that’s what matters.”
Playing with 11 men for most of the game, unlike in Sinsheim, allowed Luxembourg to show how far they have come but their inability to take their chances is a big reason why they remain pointless in Group A.
Sané proving point at the right time
Much has been said and written about Leroy Sané. Indeed, in 2022 there were similar noises about whether he was about to miss out on another World Cup squad because of his inconsistency.
But, in a Germany game that will quickly be forgotten, he did what was asked of him and took his chance. He is in the team to provide the difference in one-on-one situations, and it was exactly that skill that opened the door for Germany.
Four straight wins, three clean sheets — after a rocky start, Germany have done the job expected of them even if it hasn’t been all that pretty.
Another late goal by Slovakia means, all eyes turn to Germany’s final World Cup qualifier in Leipzig on Monday. The two nations enter the final game level on 12 points, but with Germany in first by the virtue of a superior goal difference. A draw will suffice, but Nagelsmann’s side will be looking for more than just a better showing than in Luxembourg. They will want revenge for that shock loss in Bratislava back in September.
