Michael Ballack has expressed his shock at Leroy Sane's World Cup snub.
The 22-year-old enjoyed an outstanding 2017/18 season for Manchester City, playing a key part in their Premier League title success and winning the prestigious PFA Young Player of the Year award.
But his fine club form was not enough to earn him a place in the 23-man Germany squad for the World Cup finals, with boss Joachim Low opting for Bayer Leverkusen's Julian Brandt instead.
The decision to leave out Sane has staggered many, including German legend Ballack.
Speaking ahead of Betfair's Road to Russia Preview, the former Chelsea midfielder and World Cup finalist told SunSport: “Like many people, I was really surprised because from a football point of view there was no explanation not to select him for a squad of 23 players.