Germany suffered another damaging result as the Netherlands ran out comfortable 3-0 winners in their UEFA Nations League clash on Saturday, and a section of football fans have leapt to the defence of Manchester City winger Leroy Sane following the match.
Goals from Virgil van Dijk, Gini Wijnaldum and Memphis Depay sealed the big win for the Dutch in the face of a poor Germany effort, with the DFB using Sane’s picture in a tweet after the game.
A #NationsLeague nightmare in Amsterdam. #DieMannschaft #NEDGER pic.twitter.com/Nkozuf0WNZ
— germanfootball_dfb (@DFB_Team_EN) October 13, 2018
Football fans have taken this as an attempt to scapegoat Sane for the defeat, despite the fact he played just half an hour of the loss, and many have leapt to his defence on Twitter.
This is Futbol have rounded up some of the best tweets:
Well chosen picture. The same way you chose to put Ozil after a defeat now it is sané????
— Diogène Ntirandekura (@DiogeneNti) October 13, 2018
Why are you using Sane’s pic when he didn’t even start the game. Why not Muller or Kroos? I see you need a new scapegoat since Özil left your sorry lot.
— Bilbo Baggins (@HaveYouMetJoey) October 13, 2018
Yeah. Very convenient to put Leroy Sane as the "poster boy" for the embarrassing defeat. https://t.co/K1f1nH965H
— Cyril Onih (@Cyrilonih) October 14, 2018
Joachim Low and his team went crashing out of a World Cup without Leroy Sane. It is time him and his spineless players took some responsibility for a change.
Yes, you Mr Kroos.
— Luke??? (@Komps4) October 14, 2018
@DFB_Team_EN you guys got new scape goat? @LeroySane19 before my guy they chewed and spat out ozil https://t.co/kO5KFN3Dn2
— Umm.Hmm (@The_troooper) October 14, 2018
https://twitter.com/JG_1408/status/1051438744425893889
Did I just hear Joachim Low call Leroy Sane inexperience cos he missed a chance ????? what a fool.
— ??EL Geordie ?? (@Geordie4Life_19) October 14, 2018
Leave Leroy Sane out of your mess!!!! https://t.co/PSvJggxiEG
— Mr ON1 (@TheNod_Man) October 14, 2018
Just wow ?? these people @DFB_Team_EN have no shame, first it was @MesutOzil1088 who was a poster boy for all the Ls now it’s another non-Bavarian boy in @LeroySane19
The Racism is clear as whistle ?? https://t.co/VMR1dJ43Iq
— ? ?????? ?? (@IamKitto0) October 14, 2018
Why not use Toni or muller or kimmich as the face of defeat instead of sane who even didn't start the match. This is pure injustice to @LeroySane19
It must be said that @DFB_Team_EN has an off the pitch relationship problem which affect players on it @GoalUK @skysport #Germany— SONGWRITER & POET (@IamSoloh) October 14, 2018
OPINION
These fans seem pretty put out that Germany have used Sane’s photo in their tweet on the final whistle, and you can see where there anger is coming from. Sane played just half an hour or so of the defeat, and while the Manchester City winger did not have the best of games, the defeat can surely not be placed at his door. So many established names failed to turn up for Joachim Low’s side, including Toni Kroos and Thomas Muller, and they should surely be the ones who are held to account for this defeat. Kroos in particular must be ashamed after his criticism of Sane, suggesting that the City winger did not care if Germany won or lost. That kind of comment is not helpful at all, especially after such a disastrous World Cup campaign, and Sane will be feeling pretty isolated in that dressing room. It is nice to see these fans jump to his defence, and hopefully things start to change among the Germany team.