Germany will begin their UEFA Nations League campaign against Spain on September 5.
This will therefore see Leroy Sane going up against his Bayern Munich teammate, Thiago Alcantara. The match will hold at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Stuttgart on Thursday (kick-off: 8.45 pm CEST/7.45 BST/2.45 pm ET).
This will also be a return of Sane to the national team after his last outing with the Die Mannschaft in June 2019. The former Manchester City winger scored the final goal during the 8-0 destruction of Estonia in UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying.
Sane got ruled out of action with a ruptured his cruciate ligament while playing for the Citizens in their Community Shield win over Liverpool eight weeks later.
Although the 24-year-old is yet to complete a competitive game for club or country since his belated move to Bayern this July, he has looked good in training. He will be returning alongside Bayern teammate Niklas Süle, while Manuel Neuer, Joshua Kimmich and Serge Gnabry were given rest following their recent continental treble-winning heroics.
“Bayern have always represented a strong block and are very dominant again. That can be an advantage because the players know each other.
“They’re also very good players with strong characters who cultivate team spirit,” Germany general manager Oliver Bierhoff explained.
Others in the Germany squad to face Spain
Meanwhile, Borussia Mönchengladbach midfielder Florian Neuhaus and Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann, Robin Gosens, have received their first call up to the national team.
Gosens is also eligible to play for the Netherlands. The left back was called up to the team following his recent performance with Atalanta that got knocked out in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Sane was ineligible to play for the Bavarian while they recorded another treble season. But Thiago was eligible and the Spaniard played a pivotal role in their 1-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain. Thiago completed a game-high 92 percent of his passes in the Lisbon showpiece.
He is now with the La Roja while his Bundesliga counterpart, Dani Olmo will be looking to build on his goalscoring international debut. The Leipzig midfielder had a memorable debut as he was among the goalscorers in last November’s 7-0 win over Malta.
While Atletico Madrid pair Alvaro Morata and Saul Niguez are rested, Barcelona youngster Ansu Fati could be making his full senior debut under Luis Enrique.
Unfortunately, Wolverhampton Wanderer’s wide man Adama Traore won’t be part of the team after testing positive to COVID-19. There would be second testing today, but he is already self-isolating.
Probable line-ups
Germany: Leno – Kehrer, Süle, Ginter, Gosens – Gündogan, Kroos (c) – Sane, Havertz, Brandt – Werner
Out: Gnabry (not included), Goretzka (not included), Kimmich (not included), Klostermann (not included), Neuer (not included), Reus (not included), Schulz (calf)
Doubtful: –
Coach: Joachim Löw
Spain: Kepa – Navas, Ramos (c), Llorente, Gaya – Fabian, Busquets, Thiago – Rodrigo, Gerard, Asencio
Out: Ceballos (not included), I. Martinez (not included), Morata (not included), Saul (not included)
Doubtful: Traore (illness)
Coach: Luis Enrique
