The German Football Association (DFB) has announced that Leroy Sane will be sidelined for Germany’s World Cup opener against Japan due to a knee injury.
In preparation for the Group E match at Khalifa International Stadium on Wednesday, the Bayern Munich winger skipped Die Mannschaft’s final practice session.
The rest of Germany’s squad took part in the session.
A DFB statement read: “The German national team must be without Leroy Sane in their World Cup opening game against Japan on Wednesday.
“The 26-year-old attacking player from champions FC Bayern Munich is unavailable against the four-time Asian champions due to knee problems. The remaining 25 players of the German World Cup squad took part in the final training session in Al-Shamal.
“After lunch, the four-time world champions’ squad head to Qatar’s capital, Doha, where captain Manuel Neuer and company will spend the night before the opening game.”
While the loss of Sane, who has scored 11 times in 45 appearances for his country, obviously represents a blow, head coach Hansi Flick does have a wealth of attacking options to choose from with Serge Gnabry, Julian Brandt, Mario Gotze, Kai Havertz and Jamal Musiala all available.
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