City's Leroy Sane cut from Germany's World Cup roster

June 4 (UPI) -- Manchester City midfielder Leroy Sane did not make the final cut for Germany's 2018 World Cup team.

That means he won't be boarding a flight for Russia or playing in the team's first group stage match against Mexico on Sunday, June 17 at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.

Germany's 23-man squad includes: Manuel Neuer, Kevin Trapp, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Marvin Plattenhardt, Jonas Hector, Matthias Ginter, Mats Hummels, Niklas Sule, Antonio Rudiger, Jerome Boateng, Joshua Kimmich, Sami Khedira, Julian Draxler, Toni Kroos, Timo Werner, Mesut Ozil, Marco Reus, Thomas Muller, Leon Goretzka, Sebastian Rudy, Julian Brandt, Ilkay Gundogan and Mario Gomez.

German stars Bernd Leno, Jonathan Tah and Nils Peterson also failed to make the final cut. Sane, 22, scored 10 goals this season for City's Premier League winning group.

"There are no doubt nicer days in life than when you have to send four players home that would have deserved to go to the World Cup," Germany coach Jochim Löw said, according to the team's website.

"We still fully believe in their abilities. I spoke to the four players and of course they are deeply disappointed. It certainly wasn't an easy decision -- it was very close. They all fought hard for their place, and that certainly added value to the team. You have to see the bigger picture; we need to be well balanced at a tournament and be prepared for every eventuality."

Germany lost 2-1 in a friendly against Austria Saturday at Worthersee Stadion in Worthersee, Austria.