Klopp's talent hunt sees Mika Baur earn Germany debut in Nations League

Germany’s recent World Cup exit left Jurgen Klopp inheriting a side he described as “on its knees”. Determined to inject fresh blood, the former Liverpool manager unveiled a 44‑man Germany squad for the upcoming Nations League. Among the newcomers, 22‑year‑old Mika Baur earned his first senior call‑up.

Klopp's expanded squad and long‑term plan

The 44‑man list is unprecedented for Germany, with the coach splitting the pool into two groups for four fixtures. Klopp replaced Julian Nagelsmann in July after the team fell at the last‑32 stage of the World Cup, their third successive early exit. He said the squad is intended for the next two or three years, not merely the immediate four games.

Teams may name only 20 outfield players and three goalkeepers per match, so Klopp split the 44 athletes into two squads. The first will travel to Amsterdam for the Netherlands clash on 24 September and then host Greece in Augsburg three days later. The second, including Baur, will play Serbia in Munich on 1 October and Greece in Thessaloniki on 4 October.

Klopp explained his approach, saying, “It’s very unusual that you’ve got four games in two weeks with the national team. I want to get to know as many players as possible in that time. It’s not an A‑team and a B‑team, but the two squads have been created in a way that each fits well together.”

Zidane thrives while Klopp struggles after World Cup shake‑up

Mika Baur joins the German set‑up

The Celtic midfielder, who arrived from Paderborn this summer, has already represented Germany from the under‑15s up to the under‑21s. At 22, Baur becomes one of 16 players receiving their first senior call‑up under Klopp, the former Liverpool boss. His move to the Scottish champions marks a challenging step in his career.

Baur will travel with the second group, preparing for the October fixtures in Munich and Thessaloniki. The first group, meanwhile, will contest the September matches against the Netherlands and Greece. This split allows Klopp to assess a broader pool while adhering to the competition’s roster limits.

“I consider him really exciting,” Klopp said of Baur, adding “He’s absolutely up for it.” He also joked about a phone call concerning the weather in Glasgow, a city he knows well from his Liverpool days. Klopp praised the midfielder’s willingness to take on a very challenging step.

Tresoldi thanks Klopp but delays the choice between Germany and Italy

Klopp stressed that the enlarged squad is built for the medium term, saying, “It’s a squad for two or three years from now, not just for the next four international games.” The approach signals a clear shift from the post‑World Cup gloom to a forward‑looking rebuilding phase for German football.