Neuer is in Germany World Cup squad, Sane left out

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BERLIN, June 4, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Germany have included 2014 World Cup-
winning goalkeeper Manuel Neuer in their final squad for the 2018 tournament,
even though he has only just returned from a long-term absence through
injury.

But coach Joachim Loew omitted Manchester City striker Leroy Sane from his
23-player list despite a strong season with the Premier League champions.

Bayern Munich goalkeeper Neuer made his first appearance since September in
the 2-1 defeat by Austria in a friendly on Saturday.

The 32-year-old who is considered key to Germany’s hopes of retaining the
title had been sidelined for eight months after fracturing a metatarsal in
his left foot last September in a recurrence of the same injury he suffered
earlier in 2017.

Sane was cut from the squad with Timo Werner and the veteran Mario Gomez
included as just two out-and-out strikers.

Germany 23-man squad:

Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Marc-Andre Ter Stegen
(Barcelona/ESP), Kevin Trapp (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA)

Defenders: Marvin Plattenhardt (Hertha Berlin), Jonas Hector (Cologne),
Matthias Ginter (Moenchengladbach), Mats Hummels (Bayern Munich), Niklas
Suele (Bayern Munich), Antonio Rudiger (Chelsea/ENG), Jerome Boateng (Bayern
Munich), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)

Midfielders: Sami Khedira (Juventus/ITA), Julian Draxler (Paris Saint-
Germain/FRA), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid/ESP), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal/ENG), Thomas
Mueller (Bayern Munich), Sebastian Rudy (Bayern Munich), Julian Brandt (Bayer
Leverkusen), Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City/ENG), Leon Goretzka (Schalke
04), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund)

Forwards: Timo Werner (RB Leipzig), Mario Gomez (VfB Stuttgart).