It does. We hammer people for pulling out of U21s/friendlies, so it's fairly consistent that it wouldn't go down so well in other countries (the Confed Cup team was pretty much the second string).
But he was second string then - and is still. You have established players in that midfield row who have shown that for Germany for years. Club performance gets you into the team but the performances there let you stay. And that you match well into your club's system does not say that you are great in the system of your country. But whereas the right wing is Müller's whose only weakness is European Cups - else he delivers and is best goalscorer and assistant in one since 2014 - the left wing had several contenders with Reus (when he is fit), Draxler, Gnabry, Schürrle and Sane. Brandt is used on both wings for his club - can play either as inside forward or more classical - that might give him an advantage for the 2nd man on the right.
I do not like Draxler - I do not see him as top class player - but he went, played captain of that 2nd string team that won the Cup and like this booked himself a spot. He probably will lose it now to Reus during the World Cup if Reus stays fit. But Reus is the far better player.
If you are in that "second string" of not established players you do not have the "advantages". You have to show your eagerness etc. - it is similar in every club side where an Kevin de Bruyne for sure does not fall out of the starting eleven because he has trained badly one day.
Total travesty when you look at some of the players who did get selected. Feel for the lad, but at least he'll be fresh and breathing fire next season to prove the doubters wrong. Hope German suffer for it.
It is not a travesty. Löw until now was always great as a squad builder for this tournaments. It is not just the matches - it is the surrounding to and the group that has to live together 6 weeks. The third keeper usually is not the third best keeper either but the one that is a better personell fit to the two others. As long as their was no big quality difference between Podolski and the other reserve players he still took him to the tournaments as he is just somebody who is great for the climate in the team.
This squad selections aren't just about taking the best individuals but about the players that match best to the playing concept and to the group. Rudy is not a top midfielder, but he does his job and has had good matches for Germany as a right winger before. Khedira is underrated - he might not be the shiny player but he does and did not have his starting place at Real and Juve without reason.
About Sane
Some before have explained why he has problems to adapt to the playing concept of the German team. With a left footed full back that can overlap it is more made for a right footed winger that drifts inside. Kroos as deeper playmaker is usually the left of the 6/8 pairing so he usually will not get the space he needs on the left wing. In difference to City Germany does not press that high to win the ball back like City does, there is no defensive 6 (Khedira plays box-to-box and Kroos often might need that more defensive partner, too) and both full backs have their strengths in passing and going forward. They aren't the fastest either. A risky playstyle like Sane has it - with a lot possession loses or ball loses in dribblings - do not help.
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There is probably various reasons that worked together why he was not selected.
Yaya should be all over this issue. Clearly Low is a racist.
Yes. That is why Boateng and Rüdiger are in the squad. And some others with non-German roots.