The strong performances of his DFB colleagues did not play into the hands of the suspended Leroy Sané. Will he make the European Championship squad despite his weak phase at FC Bayern? Felix Kroos is sceptical.
For the fans of the German national team, the test match against France brought a long-awaited sense of achievement. With the 2:0 victory, the DFB team managed to stir up euphoria for the home European Championship.
However, the game in Lyon did not have positive consequences for everyone. Bayern star Leroy Sané can now look to the summer with less optimism. After the strong performances of Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz, there seems to be no place for him in the starting XI for the time being.
The 28-year-old does not yet have to worry about being nominated for the European Championship squad. Despite his red ban from the Austria game, Sané will join the DFB team on Tuesday. National coach Julian Nagelsmann invited the attacking star to Frankfurt so that he can take part in a team-building programme. Sané will watch the match against the Netherlands from the stands.
However, doubts remain about Sané’s European Championship prospects. „For me, it’s a case of either starting eleven or not in the squad. I don’t think you can use him on the bench,“ said Felix Kroos in the BILD Sport programme on WELT TV. Sané is „perhaps someone who wouldn’t do a team any good from the bench.“
Kroos sceptical about Sané as a wild card
„If you look at the past, it’s always important to have a functioning group. If he can fit in there, even as a non-starting eleven player, he is of course also very welcome as a wild card with his qualities,“ explained the brother of Toni Kroos in more detail.
Kroos was describing the squad philosophy that Nagelsmann has in mind for the European Championship. At the press conference ahead of the clash with France, the national coach spoke tellingly of the „first 13“. The places behind these 13 players are to be filled with players who can fulfil the wild card role.
Will the ambitious Sané succeed? Kroos is sceptical: „He’s an incredibly good player, he has all the qualities. But if he doesn’t play from the start, I think he could become someone who is difficult. You can’t have that at a European Championship.“
