Fans hope Klopp can revive Germany after Paraguay disappointment
Seventy‑seven days after the World Cup low point, fans of the German national team are looking for a revival when new head coach Jürgen Klopp makes his debut. The embarrassing loss to Paraguay in the World Cup round of sixteen sent German football back into a trough two years after a hopeful home European Championship.
Klopp’s task beyond results
Klopp, aged fifty‑nine, has sparked a huge sense of renewal in the country of eighty‑three million. He insists that the new DFB chief must deliver not only wins but also a particular style, will and passion. He says the team must play with the intensity that characterised his successes at Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool.
Only two training sessions were possible with the first squad of twenty‑four players before the Nations League opener against the Netherlands. Klopp warned that the match in Amsterdam would go "straight to business" and dismissed rumours of many friendly games.
Squad selection and philosophy
Klopp named forty‑four players in total, forming two full squads. Goalkeeper Marc‑André ter Stegen returns as the number one, while Jonathan Tah and Nico Schlotterbeck form the centre‑back partnership. Joshua Kimmich anchors the midfield, supported by Felix Nmecha and Jamal Musiala, with Kai Havertz leading the attack.
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He added newcomers Philipp Treu and Nathaniel Brown to the full‑back positions and hinted that Kevin Schade and Karim Adeyemi could provide the typical Klopp‑style offensive thrust.
Klopp stresses that a team needs stability and a clear axis before it can experiment and inject youth. "If the axis is stable, you can spin around and be a bit crazy while mixing in a lot of youth," he explained.
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He also promised to stand by his players, saying, "I go through fire for the boys. If they give everything, I take responsibility for defeats – no ifs or buts." The focus, he said, will be on defensive quality as the foundation for attacking freedom.