From rejection to leader?
Before the World Cup qualifying match in Luxembourg (Friday, 20.45, live on RTL and in the ticker at BILD.de) there is bad news for national coach Julian Nagelsmann (38): Captain Joshua Kimmich (30) is out with a capsule injury. From a sporting perspective, Ridle Baku (27/Leipzig) is likely to replace him on the right side.
But the interesting question: who runs it DFB team on the field as captain? Will Leroy Sané (29) suddenly wear the captain’s armband?
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This may sound strange at first, but that doesn’t mean it’s unrealistic! Vice-captains Antonio Rüdiger (32) and Kai Havertz (26) are not injured. And in cases like this, the DFB used to have a rule in the past: the player with the most international games takes over. Currently Sané will appear with 70 international matches ahead of Goretzka with 65 matches.
Sané as captain – that will also be special as the winger has not been present for the last two international games. After moving from Bayern to Galatasaray, only now has he been invited back by the national team coach. And at the start, Sané received a fairly clear announcement from Nagelsmann: “If we had six or seven players in that position, it would be much more difficult for him. Leroy knows what it takes. He knows that there are no more countless opportunities for him to prove himself under my leadership in the national team, he knows that. I can say it openly because I have already told him openly.”
Following the announcement, is he now Sané’s captain? The chances of Sané being in the starting line-up are high due to Adeyemi’s yellow card suspension. And perhaps the German captain’s armband will give him extra motivation.
Or will Nagelsmann decide to give the captain’s armband to one of those who has recently become a leader and regular player? Apart from Goretzka, Jonathan Tah (29/41 international matches), David Raum (27/32), Gnabry (29/55) and goalkeeper Oliver Baumann (35/8) will also be candidates as the oldest players.
About a year ago, on November 19 2024, Sané wore the captain’s armband. In the Nations League match against Hungary (1-1) he took over after Kimmich was substituted in the 46th minute and used him until he was substituted in the 86th minute.
According to BILD information, currently there is no clear decision from the captain. On Thursday evening at 6 p.m. The national coach will talk about the match in Luxembourg – and perhaps even announce his Luxembourg captain…
