On November 28th, the second battle day of Group E, the match between Germany and Spain is a matter of life and death for both sides. If Spain wins, it will accumulate 6 points, with a goal difference of +8, and will secure the top spot in the group; while Germany, which unexpectedly lost to Japan in the first round, desperately needs this victory to wash away the shame and avoid the bottom of the group. However, the game was not decided.
Germany was on the attack, but in the 83rd minute, Niclas Füllkrug, the "new veteran", equalized the score. In the last minute of extra time, Germany almost killed the game, substitute "German wing" Leroy Sané made a one-touch chance, but kicked the ball out of the line and missed the chance. In the end, the two sides shook hands 1-1.
Despite Germany beating Costa Rica 4-2 in the final round, Spain suffered a surprise defeat to Japan, who finished first, Spain second and Germany third, setting an embarrassing record of two consecutive World Cup group exits.
While Sané was the target of much criticism, his counterpart, Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simón, was rarely mentioned, and Simón's bold decision-making may have been the key to his ability to go from hero of the offside trap to guilty of missing a shutout in the space of just five seconds.
However, the rapidity with which this offense unfolded prevented me from fully extrapolating the decisions of both players. The following will be based on my "guesses" as to what was going on in their minds.
Sané, who competed with a right knee injury, even non-German fans could get a glimpse of his bandage. The injury was not serious, but not minor either, and he missed the game against Japan. This game against Spain, the fastest German player of the season, was supposed to be the key to cracking Spain's passing game, but the injury kept him on the bench.
Despite a right foot injury, Sané is a left-footed player. After coming on as a 69th-minute substitute, he didn't look too affected, completing two attempts on the disc, delivering a key pass and creating three chances on goal, one of which indirectly led to Füllkrug's equalizing goal.
However, the numbers can't hide the fact that he failed to build for the team. We have no way of knowing how much the knee injury affected him. But I think everyone has more or less had the experience of subconsciously avoiding putting stress on the injured limb in case of an injury to a hand or foot.
Sané's mentality, or rather his subconscious in that moment, told him not to shoot with his injured right foot. Although he has a good sense of touch and shooting ability with both feet, his right foot is his "non-dominant foot". Even a professional player like Sané would subconsciously avoid shooting with his injured non-dominant foot at a crucial moment when the game is on the line.
Looking at the game footage, Sané had only two options for his first chance at goal: hit the near post with his left foot or the far post with his right foot.
