Jurgen Klopp drops Germany World Cup top scorer from Nations League squads

Jürgen Klopp announced on Thursday that he has selected 44 players across two Germany squads ahead of four Nations League fixtures, while leaving out the Germany World Cup top scorer, striker Deniz Undav.

Audition for Euro 2028

The double‑squad approach turns the upcoming matches against the Netherlands, Greece and Serbia into an extended audition for places ahead of the 2028 European Championship in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Established stars such as Florian Wirtz and Kai Havertz are expected to feature in no more than two of the four games as Klopp balances fresh talent with physical management.

Veterans left on the sidelines

Deniz Undav, who topped Germany’s World Cup scoring chart with three goals and two assists before the round‑of‑32 penalty‑shootout loss to Paraguay, was omitted entirely. Galatasaray winger Leroy Sané also missed out, despite having earned 80 international caps.

Among the 44 called up are several players who have never appeared for Germany at senior level. Elversberg midfielder Felix Keidel and Eintracht Frankfurt forward Younes Ebnoutalib have each logged only a handful of top‑flight club games.

Klopp splits Germany squad as Nations League opener looms

Schedule and squad logistics

The first 24‑man list will travel to Amsterdam for the clash with the Netherlands on 24 September and then to Augsburg for the Greece game three days later. A second list of 20 players joins the squad for the Serbia encounter in Munich on 1 October and the return fixture against Greece in Thessaloniki on 4 October.

Each matchday roster must be submitted by midnight before the fixture, with a maximum of 23 players eligible to play. Players may be swapped between the four games, allowing Klopp to rotate the squad while most of those named for the first two fixtures return to their clubs afterwards.

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Germany’s recent World Cup campaign saw victories over Curaçao and Ivory Coast, a loss to Ecuador and a penalty‑shootout defeat to Paraguay after a 1‑1 draw, leaving the nation without a major trophy since the 2014 World Cup. Klopp’s tenure as head coach begins later this month, with the Nations League schedule offering his first opportunity to reshape the side.