Fans and the media were surprised and disappointed by Leroy Sané's return to the German team. However, the winger helped Germany secure a 2-0 win over Luxembourg.
Leroy Sané and Nick Woltemade were two highlights on an otherwise quiet night for Germany in LuxembourgImage: Maximilian Koch/IMAGO
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"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.
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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."
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.
Leroy Sané had a couple of moments where he looked back to his best in a Germany shirtImage: Philipp Flohr/IMAGO
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.
Eagle on the chest: Germany football kits over the years
Germany have unveiled their jerseys for the 2026 World Cup. DW takes a look back at some of jerseys worn in previous tournament, starting with the one West Germany wore when winning their first World Cup.
Image: Adidas/dpa/picture alliance
Back to the 90s for the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico
For their World Cup campaign next year, Germany unveiled a jersey that has all the color and design of the 1990s. The diamond pattern in black, red and gold speaks recalls the famous 1990 jersey, but the zigzag design is inspired by the 1994 kit - when the World Cup was in the USA. It's also likely the last kit Adidas will make for Germany, with Nike taking over in 2027.
Image: Adidas/dpa/picture alliance
125 anniversary kit
In honor of the German football association's (DFB) 125 year anniversary, Germany released a classic, thin pinstriped kit that harked back to the very early days of Germany kits. With a retro badge and simple numbers, this classic look was a switch up from the bright colors of the Euro 2024 kit. It was also made with 100% recycled material, apparently.
Image: Ralf Brueck/Jan Huebner/IMAGO
Pink and purple replaces green
Germany's home kit for Euro 2024 has a very traditional look of mainly white with a touch of black, gold and red on the sleeves. The pink and purple away kit is a complete departure from the dark green often used by Germany. In a statement the German FA (DFB) said the new color scheme is "intended to represent the new generation of German football fans and the diversity of the country."
Image: Daniel Karmann/dpa/picture alliance
2022-23: Single black stripe for the men and women
The 2022 World Cup in Qatar was a similar disaster for the German men to four years earlier in Russia. The design, with its wide black stripe down the middle was inspired by the original German jersey from 1908. This was also the first time that an identical jersey would be worn by the men and women. Germany's women wore this jersey in a similarly unsuccessful World Cup down under in 2023.
Image: Marcio Machado/MIS/IMAGO
Distinct lack of color
This one won't go down as one of the favorites, but that has nothing to do with the aesthetics of the garment. This was the kit Germany wore in their disastrous bid to defend their World Cup in Russia in 2018. Toni Kroos, Mesut Özil and Mats Hummels were part of a team that disappointed an entire nation. It would also turn out to be Özil's last tournament before he ended his national team career.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/adidas
World Cup winner
The 2014 jersey was inspired by the one Germany wore in in the 1990 World Cup in Italy. Apparently the three shades of red are meant to represent the black red and gold of the German flag. Instead of the traditional black shorts Germany went with white. Mario Götze will be forever held dearly in German fans' hearts for his winning goal in extra time of the final against Argentina.
Image: Reuters
Summer fairy tale
The 2006 World Cup in Germany is remembered in the host nation as the "summer fairy tale." With Michael Ballack in midfield, Germany played more attractive football than they had in years. Italy proved to be Germany's nemesis though, knocking them out with two goals late in extra time of their semifinal. As for the jersey, just a splash of gold and red broke up the white - plus the black trim.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/M.Egerton
France 1998
While keeping the traditional mainly white home kit, the jersey Jürgen Klinsmann and Co. wore next door in France in 1998 featured the horizontal black, red and gold stripes of Germany's flag across the chest. Another new element was the three stars above the eagle for Germany's three World Cup titles. It didn't end well for Germany though, as they fell to Croatia in the quarterfinals.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/O.Berg
Euro 96 champions!
Oliver Bierhoff's golden goal against the Czech Republic sealed the Euro 96 title for Germany at Wembley. The jersey Germany wore when "football came home" to England differed from its predecessors because it featured a white eagle on a black crest.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/AFP
Upside down in the United States
Lothar Matthäus and coach Berti Vogts didn't really have a good time in the United States in 1994. The tournament, which saw Steffen Effenberg sent home early, was largely one to forget, with Germany losing to Bulgaria in the quarterfinals.. As for the jersey, one can only wonder who decided it was a good idea to turn the colors of the German flag upside down…
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/O.Berg
Italia 1990
West Germany started wearing this jersey in the 1988 European Championship, which the still divided country hosted. Two years later, West and East Germany were just months from becoming one country, and players from both sides featured in the national team that won the 1990 World Cup in Italy.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/F. Leonhardt
Green in the 1986 final
West Germany and Germany have often worn green as their alternate kit. Captain Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and his teammates made it to the final against Argentina in Mexico City's Azteka Stadium in 1986. Rummenigge scored, but his side were second-best to an Argentine team led by a Diego Maradona at the height of his powers. Argentina won 3-2 to hoist the World Cup for a second time.
Image: Getty Images/Bongarts
1974 World Cup
In the 1970s West Germany jerseys were an all-but all-white affair. One notable feature of the jersey worn here by Gerd Müller and Wolfgang Overrath was an eagle that is somewhat bigger than the one on more recent kits. This classic jersey is remembered fondly for the fact that Müller and the rest of the Nationalmannschaft earned the right to lift the World Cup in 1974 in Munich.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/Baumann
1954: The Miracle of Bern
The 1954 jersey worn by captain Fritz Walter, Horst Eckel and the rest of West Germany was very similar to those worn for the second World Cup triumph 20 years later. West Germany upset the magic Magyars led by the legendary Ferenc Puskas in the World Cup final 3-2. The match was played on a waterlogged pitch in the Swiss capital. This would become known in Germany as "the miracle of Bern."
