Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann has broken a long-held tradition to snub Leroy Sane as his nation’s stand-in captain.
With skipper Joshua Kimmich and both vice-captains Kai Havertz and Antonio Rudiger all out injured, the former Bayern Munich manager was tasked with choosing another star to wear the armband against Luxembourg this evening.
Usually in Germany, the player with the most caps would be trusted to lead his nation out in the absence of the regular captain. Such a rule would ordinarily, in this case, mean that former Man City winger Sane would skipper the team on Friday evening.
The 29-year-old boasts some 70 international caps, exceeding anyone else in the current German squad.
However Nagelsmann, who has been critical of Sane in recent months, surprisingly chose to break with tradition and snub the winger in favour of Bayern centre-half Jonathan Tah.
He explained his damning decision at a press conference on Thursday, saying: ‘Jonathan Tah will replace him [Kimmich]. We appointed a team council before the Nations League – not many of them are left because some are injured.
Julian Nagelsmann has broken a long-standing German tradition to snub Leroy Sane
With usual captain Joshua Kimmich out injured, history would suggest that Sane would be handed the armband as he’s the most experienced player in the German squad
However Nagelsmann has handed the captaincy to Bayern Munich centre-half Jonathan Tah
‘Jonathan is the only one remaining. He’s having a good season and deserves it. I don’t know if he already knows, but now he does – and I hope he doesn’t get nervous.’
Tah, who signed for the German champions from Bayer Leverkusen only last summer, has earned 41 caps for his nation so far and been a stalwart at the back for Vincent Kompany’s side this season.
But his promotion will come as a huge blow for Sane, who only earned a recall to the German squad for this international break having lost his place after the Nations League Finals in June.
Nagelsmann nevertheless admitted earlier this week Sane’s early-season form has impressed him. The left-footer has scored three and provided three assists thus far for Galatasaray.
Yet the German boss’s praise was not without warning as he insisted that Sane must grab the opportunity with both hands.
‘If we had six or seven players to choose from in that position, then it would be significantly more difficult for him [Sane],’ Nagelsmann said.
‘He knows that there aren’t an unlimited number of opportunities to prove himself at the national team level. I told him that openly.’
The German manager has been critical of Sane in recent months, even dropping him from his squad altogether
However the 25-year-old earned a recall this month after an impressive start to the season with Galatasaray
He added: ‘Profile-wise, he has everything we need in that position. That’s why he has this opportunity now.
‘His scoring rate and performances have improved significantly compared to the beginning, both in the Super Lig and in the Champions League. But he still has steps to improve – both here and at the club.’
Sane signed for Super Lig giants Galatasaray on a free transfer after spending five years at Bayern Munich.
He netted 61 goals and provided 55 assists in 223 appearances for the Bundesliga champions but lost his place in Kompany’s starting eleven last term.
