Leroy Sane put in extra work after training for Germany

Per Bild, Leroy Sane stayed after Germany’s main training session had finished today along with Manuel Neuer and Bernd Leno to specifically work on finishing drills. Leno had gone in goal while Neuer sent balls in to Sane and there was a focus to try to only take a maximum of two touches to get a shot off. This little session between the trio of players lasted for roughly twenty minutes before they wrapped it up. After a lackluster performance in the 2-2 draw with Hungary, Sane wanted to put in the extra work in front of goal as he wasn’t too productive in the final third during that match.

While it’s hard to pick out many players on Die Mannschaft that had flowing performances vs. Hungary, it’s safe to say that Sane didn’t quite make the most of his first start of the tournament. Leon Goretzka, Thomas Muller, Timo Werner, and Jamal Musiala were effective, second half subs that made a difference, but not too many players in Joachim Low’s starting eleven shone too well for themselves in the draw. It was anticipated that Goretzka could possibly replace Muller in the starting lineup, since Muller was dealing with the knee problem, but Low ultimately decided to go with Sane on the wing.

During the Hungary draw, there were even some whistles from the on-watching crowd at the Allianz Arena, jeering Sane’s ineffectiveness. Serge Gnabry didn’t quite understand why the fans were doing such. “We can never use whistles. I personally cannot understand why there is a whistle. It would be much nicer if there would be support. But I am sure that Leroy will give everything. As soon as there is a good action that leads to a goal, it is different again,” Sane’s Bayern Munich compatriot explained.

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To be fair to Sane, it was always going to be difficult for whoever stepped in for Muller against a resolute, well-disciplined Hungary side that shocked the tournament with their 1-1 draw with France in Budapest. Marco Rossi’s side defended well in deep blocks for the majority of the 90 minutes against Germany and proved to be a pesky side to try to break down. It wasn’t just Sane; the entirety of Germany’s attack lacked pace and a sense of urgency in the final third until Low made changes.

Gnabry knows that Sane possesses the quality to really make an impact; “With the talent and skill level that Leroy has, that will always prevail. Of course things haven’t been going so well for him at the tournament so far. But also for a few others. Its quality will prevail in the end. If he gets more self-confidence again, gets his chance, then he has to take it. We help him, he accelerates in training. He also stepped on the gas against Hungary, did a lot of defensive work, that was a good sign, he has to build on that.”