Klopp unveils 44‑man Germany squad and slams media leak ahead of Nations League
Jurgen Klopp has announced a 44‑man split squad for Germany’s upcoming Nations League campaign, marking his first official selection as the national team’s head coach. The unusually large roster will be divided into two groups to cover a three‑week international break that includes matches against the Netherlands, Greece and Serbia.
Klopp’s first‑team group features stars such as Florian Wirtz, Kai Havertz and Jamal Musiala, while the second group will see Musiala and Havertz feature in the opening two fixtures and Wirtz in the later games. Notably, Stuttgart striker Deniz Undav – Germany’s top scorer at the World Cup – was omitted, whereas 23‑year‑old Felix Keidel of Bundesliga newcomers SV Elversberg earned his maiden call‑up.
The inclusion of Keidel was leaked to the press hours before the official announcement, prompting a fiery response from Klopp. “I don’t give a damn that it came out early,” he said, adding, “It’s a bit pathetic to make a living by putting things out there earlier than people actually need to know them.”
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During the press conference Klopp wore a baseball cap emblazoned with the words “one of 83 million” in the German flag colours, a gesture he described as an attempt to “reclaim the flag” and restore national pride away from extremist narratives. He stressed that football should foster community and happiness, saying, “We need to rediscover the fun in all of this and I hope I won’t have to talk about political matters in the future.”
The former Liverpool manager took over the national side in July after the DFB dismissed Julian Nagelsmann following a World Cup round‑of‑32 exit. Klopp has repeatedly warned that any personal attacks on his family will trigger an immediate resignation, a stance he reiterated after the media scrutiny surrounding Nagelsmann’s partner during the tournament.
Germany’s first match under Klopp will be against the Netherlands on 24 September, followed by a clash with Greece three days later. The second squad will take on Serbia on 1 October before a final meeting with Greece on 4 October. Klopp hopes the split‑squad approach will keep players fresh and allow him to assess a broader pool ahead of the Euro 2028 qualifiers.
Analysts view the squad selection as a blend of experience and youthful promise, with the leaked inclusion of Keidel signalling Klopp’s willingness to give emerging talent a chance on the international stage. The media controversy, however, underscores the heightened scrutiny the new coach will face as he seeks to revive Germany’s fortunes.