Setback for Germany as Leroy Sane ruled out of World Cup opener against Japan

In-form winger unavailable due to knee injury

Germany coach Hans-Dieter Flick talks to his players during a training session at Al Shamal Stadium in Al Ruwais on November 19, 2022, ahead of the Fifa World Cup. Getty

Thomas Muller during Germany's training session at the Al Shamal Stadium on Saturday. Getty

Germany's midfielder Ilkay Gundogan takes part in a training session at the Al Shamal Stadium in Doha. AFP

Germany's goalkeeper Manuel Neuer takes part in a training session on Saturday ahead of the Fifa World Cup. AFP

Germany's defender Nico Schlotterbeck trains at the Al Shamal Stadium. AFP

Youssoufa Moukoko, right, and Armel Bella-Kotchap attend a training session at the Al Shamal Stadium. AFP

Germany's defender Antonio Rudiger trains with his teammates. AFP

Germany's Thomas Muller and Youssoufa Moukoko attend a training session at the Al Shamal Stadium in Qatar. AFP

Germany's Jamal Musiala and Antonio Rudiger during training. Reuters

Germany manager Hans-Dieter Flick and assistant coach Marcus Sorg oversee a training session at Al Shamal Stadium. AFP

Germany's Jonas Hofmann during training. Reuters

Germany players train at the Al Shamal Stadium. Reuters

Germany's Nico Schlotterbeck during training. Reuters

Germany winger Leroy Sane has been ruled out of his side's opening match of the World Cup against Japan due to a knee injury.

The German Football Association (DFB) confirmed the Bayern Munich forward's absence via Twitter on Tuesday.

The former Manchester City winger missed training on Tuesday - Germany's final training session before Wednesday's clash at the Khalifa International Stadium.

The DFB did not give details on the nature of Sane's injury.

It is a major setback for the Germans as Sane had come into the World Cup in good form for Bayern, having scored 10 goals in 19 games in all competitions this season, along with six assists.

The remainder of manager Hansi Flick's 26-man Germany squad trained on Tuesday and are eligible for selection.

Germany enter their Group E opener knowing this game could potentially make or break their tournament hopes.

With 2010 world champions Spain awaiting next, the Germans cannot afford any slip-up against the Japanese and risk a potential early exit again.

The four-time champions will look to put the shock result of 2018 behind them, where they suffered a first-round elimination. They have since changed their coach, several players and even dropped their official monicker 'Die Mannschaft'.

Those four years since the Russian debacle - their earliest World Cup exit in more than 80 years - have been far from successful, with the Germans relegated from the Nations League in 2018 before rule changes kept them alive in the competition, and then crashing out of the Euro at the Round of 16 last year.

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