Klopp decides: Nübel instead of Ter Stegen for first home match
After his debut against the Netherlands, Jürgen Klopp will make changes for the first home match as national team coach – and that in goal. Ter Stegen must step aside, because Alexander Nübel will defend the crossbar on Sunday evening against Greece. The change is confirmed, even though Ter Stegen shone most recently.
Goalkeeper change confirmed
At the press conference on Saturday afternoon, the 59‑year‑old coach confirmed the keeper swap. “Alex Nübel will play,” he said in Herzogenaurach. This gives Nübel his fourth A‑international cap, while Marc ter Stegen goes to the bench. The change has nothing to do with the returning keeper’s performance.
Ter Stegen’s performance against the Netherlands
Ter Stegen, the goalkeeper of Ajax Amsterdam, returned after a 15‑month break and displayed good reflexes in the 1‑1 draw against the Netherlands, but appeared at times uncertain with the ball. He gave the Dutch opportunities through misplaced passes. Klopp said he was “surprised” by the criticism and emphasized that the misplaced passes were “absolutely not critical.”
Klopp picks Nübel, Ter Stegen stays on the bench against Greece
The national team coach explained that he was “very, very happy with the performance” of his temporary number‑1. Ter Stegen had “saved superbly,” he added, and pointed out that the criticism was extraordinary, given that the opposing coach had praised the goalkeeper.
Keeper Alexander Nübel, who plays for Besiktas Istanbul, completed an individual training program with goalkeeper coach Andreas Kronenberg in the final session. Ter Stegen and Finn Dahmen trained on the other side. Nübel last appeared about half a year ago in a friendly against Ghana (2‑1) for the German national team.
Klopp explains why he drops ter Stegen after his strong performance
In the autumn of 2024, Nübel made his first appearance for Germany in the match against Bosnia (2‑1) and Hungary (1‑1). In the third match under Klopp there will be another goalkeeper swap: Ter Stegen and Nübel are not in the second squad for the games against Serbia and Greece. Instead, a debutant will be in goal – Finn Dahmen, who is included in both squads, or Noah Atubolu or Jonas Urbig.