Klopp debut sheds light on record newcomers and critical voices
Two days before the debut of the new national team coach Jürgen Klopp (59) at the Johan‑Cruijff‑Arena in Amsterdam, the German national players are in the spotlight on one hand because of the record‑breaking number of newcomers, and on the other hand because of critical voices such as those of former Bundesliga star Max Kruse. While the line‑up is still being speculated about, the discussion about the team's leadership has already begun.
Record number of debutants
The countdown at bei.de shows that 44 players make up the first two squads nominated by Klopp – the most newcomers since 1998. The first six newly‑nominated players are Hennes Behrens (FC Augsburg), Max Rosenfelder, Philipp Treu and Yannik Engelhardt (all SC Freiburg), Bambasé Conté (1899 Hoffenheim) and Younes Ebnoutalib (Eintracht Frankfurt).
During the national team training at the home ground in Herzogenaurach, coach Jürgen Klopp was photographed together with DFB sporting director Rudi Völler (66) and Marc Kosicke, underscoring the official presentation of the new era.
Criticism of the captaincy choice
Former Bundesliga star Max Kruse, known from Werder Bremen and Borussia Mönchengladbach, expressed clear doubts about Joshua Kimmich as captain in the podcast “Beidfüßig”. “Leadership is not only shown through the band and hard tackling, leadership is so much more – Kimmich is not the right one for that, in my view,” Kruse said.
Matthäus demands clear support from Klopp for Kimmich
Kruse, 38, also criticised the lack of an alternative leader, while the reports suggest that Klopp still intends to appoint Kimmich as captain.
The excitement around the first starting eleven is growing, with Lothar Matthäus emphasizing in a Sky column that players such as Chris Führich and Bambasé Conté provide opportunities for improvement, while in attack behind Kai Havertz Younes Ebnoutalib is ready.
Thus, the German national team faces a debut that is marked both by the high number of newcomers and by internal discussions about leadership and tactics.