Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann defended the inclusion of Galatasaray attacker Leroy Sané in his World Cup squad by pointing to the player's recent output with the national team. Last fall, he had declared that players would need to post numbers in competitive leagues to be considered for selection.

Sané scored seven goals and provided nine assists in 43 games across all competitions last season for Galatasaray. The coach said his evaluation extended beyond club statistics when assembling the squad.

"His numbers at club level weren't high enough," Nagelsmann said. "With us, he's racked up five goal contributions in the last four games. Of course, I also have to assess his performances for the national team."

He acknowledged the attention surrounding the player's selection. "He's a subject of much debate," Nagelsmann said. "It's becoming increasingly clear what he's lacking."

He pointed to Sané's standing within the dressing room as a factor in the decision, and said the chemistry could carry over into the tournament. "He's extremely popular within the team — with Antonio (Rüdiger), Jona (Tah), Jamal (Musiala) — I could name 15 others — I have a good connection with him," he said. "A real synergy can develop in the tournament."

He described the qualities Sané could bring to matches and said the player's role at the outset of the tournament could reflect his club form. "He has something special about playing in tight spaces," he said. "He can make a big impact against deep-lying defenses with his speed and technique. Given his perhaps not-so-great numbers at club level, he might initially find himself in a challenger role."

"I have a great relationship with him and I'm confident I can push him to his limits so that there will be much more positive feedback about him after the World Cup," he said.