KLOPP OPENS NEW GERMANY ERA WITH 44-MAN SQUAD FOR NATIONS LEAGUE TESTS

Jurgen Klopp has begun his tenure as Germany coach by naming an expanded 44-man squad for the country’s upcoming Nations League fixtures. The former Liverpool manager included 16 players who could make their international debuts, as he looks to assess a wide pool of talent following Germany’s disappointing 2026 World Cup campaign.

Klopp has divided the large squad into two groups because Germany have four Nations League matches scheduled within a short period. The first group will face the Netherlands in Amsterdam on September 24 before taking on Greece in Augsburg three days later, while the second group will meet Serbia in Munich on October 1 before travelling to Thessaloniki for another game against Greece on October 4.

The new coach explained that the unusual selection was designed to give him an opportunity to work with as many players as possible. Among the potential debutants are Eintracht Frankfurt forward Younes Ebnoutalib, Stuttgart defender Finn Jeltsch, Brentford midfielder Vitaly Janelt and Celtic midfielder Mika Baur. Klopp said the squad was also being built with Germany’s longer-term development in mind rather than focusing only on the immediate fixtures.

Marc-Andre ter Stegen has been selected as Germany’s current first-choice goalkeeper, while Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich will retain the captaincy. Kimmich is also expected to move into central midfield for the national team, having increasingly played in that position at club level. Meanwhile, established players including Leroy Sane, Deniz Undav and Leon Goretzka were left out, while Manuel Neuer and Antonio Rudiger have retired from international football.

Klopp took over from Julian Nagelsmann in July after Germany were eliminated at the last-32 stage of the 2026 World Cup. The coach said his initial assessment had shown that the country still possesses a significant pool of young talent, despite concerns following the tournament. His first squad therefore combines experienced internationals with emerging players as he begins preparations for the next phase of Germany’s national team development.