Julian Nagelsmann Opts To Leave Sane Out For Germany World Cup Qualifiers As Rudiger Returns

Last Updated:August 27, 2025, 21:52 IST

Germany will be without the services of a swathe of injury-hit players including Jamal Musiala and Marc-Andre ter Stegen for the encounters against Slovakia  and Northern Ireland.

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Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann decided to leave Leroy Sane out of his side’s World Cup Qualifiers against Slovakia  and Northern Ireland on Wednesday as centre back Antonio Rudiger returned to the outfit.

Germany will be without Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz, Tim Kleindienst, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Nico Schlotterbeck and Benjamin Henrichs for the encounters in September.

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The Germany coach included three newcomers in the 23-man squad: Eintracht Frankfurt defender Nnamdi Collins, Augsburg goalkeeper Finn Dahmen, and Mainz midfielder Paul Nebel.

Sane, who has made 70 appearances for Germany since his debut in 2015, was left out of the first squad announced since his transfer from Bayern Munich to Galatasaray in the summer. Rudiger has been called up for the first time since his outburst in the Spanish Cup final in May, when the Real Madrid centre-back threw an object at the referee while verbally abusing him.

“He knows this can’t happen again, otherwise there will be very serious consequences," Nagelsmann criticised Rudiger’s behaviour back in May.

Following the incident, Rudiger apologised for his wrong and excessive behaviour in an interview with Germany’s Sueddeutsche Zeitung.

In addition to Rudiger, Nagelsmann also recalled Stuttgart duo Angelo Stiller and Jamie Leweling, along with Mainz midfielder Nadiem Amiri.

Dahmen, who is also eligible to represent England, comes into the squad to replace the injured Barcelona keeper ter Stegen.

Germany face Slovakia in Bratislava on September 4 before hosting Northern Ireland three days later in Cologne.

Germany must win their four-team group with Slovakia, Northern Ireland, and Luxembourg to guarantee qualification for the 2026 World Cup in Canada, the United States, and Mexico.

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Germany Squad:

Goalkeepers: Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim), Finn Dahmen (Augsburg), Alexander Nuebel (Stuttgart)

Defenders: Robert Andrich (Bayer Leverkusen), Waldemar Anton (Borussia Dortmund), Nnamdi Collins (Eintracht Frankfurt), Robin Koch (Eintracht Frankfurt), Maximilian Mittelstadt (Stuttgart), David Raum (RB Leipzig), Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid/ESP), Jonathan Tah (Bayern Munich)

Midfielders: Karim Adeyemi (Borussia Dortmund), Nadiem Amiri (Mainz), Serge Gnabry (Bayern Munich), Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich), Pascal Gross (Borussia Dortmund), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Jamie Leweling (Stuttgart), Paul Nebel (Mainz), Angelo Stiller (Stuttgart), Florian Wirtz (Liverpool/ENG)

Forwards: Niclas Fuellkrug (West Ham/ENG), Nick Woltemade (Stuttgart)

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First Published:

August 27, 2025, 21:52 IST

News sports Julian Nagelsmann Opts To Leave Sane Out For Germany World Cup Qualifiers As Rudiger Returns

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