Germany recall Sane, hand El Mala debut for World Cup qualifiers
Coach Julian Nagelsmann revealed on Thursday that Leroy Sane returns to the side while Said El Mala earns his initial inclusion in Germany's 25-player group for the November World Cup qualifying fixtures.
The 19-year-old El Mala makes the cut even after featuring in only nine Bundesliga matches. Having helped Cologne secure promotion over the summer, he has netted four times in the league this term.
Newcastle's Malick Thiaw also comes back after missing out for two years, and Brentford's Kevin Schade gets a call since 2024.
From the previous October selection, Robert Andrich, Robin Koch, Angelo Stiller, and Maximilian Beier no longer feature.
The ex-Manchester City and Bayern Munich wide player Sane, now with Turkish outfit Galatasaray since the summer, last appeared for Germany back in June.
Nagelsmann noted that Sane merited his return through strong showings in the Champions League and Super Lig.
The player with 70 caps has contributed three goals and three assists across 14 outings for Galatasaray.
Germany remains without various key squad members due to injuries.
Attackers Kai Havertz, Jamal Musiala, Niclas Fuellkrug, and Tim Kleindienst sit out, joined by keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen and defender Antonio Rudiger on the treatment table.
Liverpool's Florian Wirtz and Newcastle's Nick Woltemade lead the line for Germany in the Premier League contingent.
Germany travel to Luxembourg on November 14, then face a potentially pivotal encounter against Slovakia in Leipzig just three days later.
Securing victories in both would guarantee top spot in the group and direct World Cup entry for Germany. A failure to lead might require an extra playoff round in March.
Slovakia matches Germany on nine points in Group A, with the hosts edging ahead via superior goal difference.
Slovakia triumphed 2-0 over Germany on home soil in September and will welcome Northern Ireland in their remaining qualifier.
Germany squad
Goalkeepers: Noah Atubolu (Freiburg), Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim), Finn Dahmen (Augsburg), Alexander Nuebel (Stuttgart)
Defenders: Waldemar Anton (Borussia Dortmund), Ridle Baku (RB Leipzig), Nathaniel Brown (Eintracht Frankfurt), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Felix Nmecha (Borussia Dortmund), Aleksandar Pavlovic (Bayern Munich), David Raum (RB Leipzig), Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), Jonathan Tah (Bayern Munich), Malick Thiaw (Newcastle/ENG)
Midfielders/forwards: Karim Adeyemi (Borussia Dortmund), Nadiem Amiri (Mainz), Jonathan Burkardt (Eintracht Frankfurt), Said El Mala (Cologne), Serge Gnabry (Bayern Munich), Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich), Jamie Leweling (Stuttgart), Leroy Sane (Galatasaray/TUR), Kevin Schade (Brentford/ENG), Florian Wirtz (Liverpool/ENG), Nick Woltemade (Newcastle/ENG)