Germany national team coach Joachim Low has explained his shocking decision to leave out Leroy Sane from his 23-man World Cup squad.

The Manchester City winger has missed out on the final cut for a trip to Russia, and Low has compared the situation as being prevented from boarding a plane, right at the airport.

"It was a very tight decision between him and Julian Brandt (of Bayer Leverkusen) which went in favour of Brandt," Low said.

"There are better days in the life of a national team coach, when you have to send four amazing players, who deserve to be at the World Cup, home.

"It's like being at the airport check-in counter en route to Moscow and you are not allowed to board the plane."