German tabloid Bild reports that Leroy Sane has come to terms with being a substitute for the German national team.
Aged 30, Sane faces fierce competition on Germany’s right wing. Eighteen-year-old Bayern talent Lennart Karl impressed hugely on his international debut against Finland, meaning Sane is highly likely to start the opening World Cup fixture as an impact substitute.
Sane’s positive attitude towards his new role has surprised many. He is often seen laughing and cracking jokes with teammates in training, in consistently high spirits. Though limited in shooting chances during internal practice matches, Sane fights hard with aggressive intensity. After every training session, he stays behind patiently to sign autographs and take photos with fans.
His fellow players have noticed a stark shift in his personality. Previously reserved, withdrawn and prone to low moods, Sane has turned into a positive locker-room influence after accepting his bench status.
As a squad middleman bridging veterans and young prospects, Sane acts as a vital communication link. He keeps close bonds with former Bayern teammates Musiala and Pavlovic, shares old Schalke friendship with Goretzka and Neuer, and gets along well with Rüdiger. During spare time on national team duty, he regularly organises UNO card games to lift team morale. Even with positional rival Karl, their relationship remains cordial. The pair first met at Bayern, and have kept in close touch ever since Sane joined Galatasaray last summer.
After the Finland clash, head coach Julian Nagelsmann singled out Sane for praise over his substitute display: “I have to highlight Sane’s outstanding performance off the bench. He unleashed a shot that was blocked by Musiala; it would’ve been a goal otherwise. Full of energy, he brought massive value to our side. Having varied options in this spot makes our attacking play far more dangerous.”
Sane has long divided fan opinions with inconsistent form, capable of world-class outings yet also fading out of games frequently. He endured poor major tournament returns across Euro 2021, the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024, failing to score once and registering only a single assist, switching repeatedly between starting line-up and bench. Now fixed as Germany’s key supersub, Sane happily accepts the set role