Leroy Sané has been a hot topic surrounding the German national team during the 2026 World Cup. Peter Neuruel doesn't believe the attacking player will play a significant role under new German coach Jürgen Klopp.
The 71-year-old coach emphasized on SPORT1's new program "45 - SPORT1 Football Halftime" that the possibility of Sané being selected for the German national team again is "very, very small".
Neueruler's stance was clear: "Klopp selects players based on performance. I really like this player, I like this type of player. He can be on par with Messi. But when was the last time he performed at this level?"
Neueruler went on to say that Sané has had enough time and opportunity to prove himself. "I don't think he can continue to perform consistently at Galatasaray and get Jürgen Klopp's attention back on him. Time has passed, and I don't think he'll come back."
Sané played in all four of Germany's matches at the 2026 World Cup, earning Julian Nagelsmann's trust despite inconsistent performances. Meanwhile, Goretzka has only played a fringe role in North American football.
According to Neueruler , the Bayern Munich midfielder, who has played for a long time, can still be a candidate for the national team. "I think Klopp will select players based on performance, and Goretzka can deliver that performance," the former Bundesliga coach said when discussing Goretzka's prospects for the German national team.
Neueruler also pointed out that players who make it into the national team must be regular starters for their respective clubs. "Goretzka only made sporadic appearances at Bayern," the 71-year-old coach said.
Against this backdrop, he believes Goretzka's transfer to Aston Villa is an opportunity. "I firmly believe that if Leão stays fit, he will perform well at Aston Villa. The kind of performance he can deliver should be enough to get him back (to the national team)."
