Klopp unveils eleven newcomers for first DFB squad
The 59‑year‑old Jürgen Klopp, as the new national team coach, has presented his highly anticipated first DFB squad. At 10 a.m., he presented in Frankfurt am Main two squads for the first four internationals, a total of 44 players, including eleven newcomers. The decision came after just under eight weeks since his first words as coach.
Two squads and eleven fresh names
As Klopp emphasizes, there is “hardly a stone” left on the other compared to his predecessor Julian Nagelsmann. The two lists contain numerous surprising names that have not previously appeared on the official sheets. In total, eleven completely new faces were nominated, which distinguishes the lineup clearly from previous squads.
Surprising new arrivals in the field
The probably most surprising DFB newcomer is right‑back Felix Keidel from SV Elversberg, whose nomination was already circulating in the media on Tuesday evening. Other defenders are Hennes Behrens (FC Augsburg), Finn Jeltsch (VfB Stuttgart), Max Rosenfelder and Philipp Treu (both SC Freiburg). In midfield come Mika Baur (Celtic Glasgow), Bambasé Conté (TSG Hoffenheim), Yannik Engelhardt (SC Freiburg) and Vitaly Janelt (FC Brentford), while the attacking line is supplemented by Younes Ebnoutalib (Eintracht Frankfurt) and Derry Scherhant (SC Freiburg).
Said El Mala (1. FC Köln) and Brajan Gruda (RB Leipzig) could also make their debut in the A national team, although they were already nominated by Julian Nagelsmann but were not used.
Goalkeepers, absent and injured stars
In goal, Marc‑André ter Stegen (Ajax Amsterdam), 34 years old, returns after 15 months and is considered by Klopp “for the moment” as number 1. The goalkeeper quintet is completed by Noah Atubolu (Eintracht Frankfurt), Finn Dahmen (FC Augsburg), Alexander Nübel (Beşiktaş Istanbul) and Jonas Urbig (FC Bayern), with three of them still awaiting their first A‑international match.
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Oliver Baumann (TSG Hoffenheim), Loris Karius (FC Schalke 04), Moritz Nicolas (Borussia Mönchengladbach) and Mio Backhaus (SC Freiburg) are missing from the first Klopp squad, although they were considered possible surprises. Antonio Rüdiger and Manuel Neuer have ended their national team careers after the disappointing World Cup exit; Leon Goretzka (knee problems) and Assan Ouedraogo (shoulder injury) are also unavailable due to injury.
Fan favourite Deniz Undav is fit, but surprisingly missing from both squads. “He has his minor problems, but hasn’t found his way into the season yet. I wanted to choose four strikers, but I opted for the other four,” Jürgen Klopp explained at the press conference. Maximilian Beier, Pascal Groß, Jamie Leweling, Leroy Sané and Angelo Stiller also remain out, as do Matthias Ginter, Robert Andrich, Niclas Füllkrug, Tim Kleindienst and Nicolo Tresoldi, for whom DFB press officer Franziska Wülle emphasized that no final decision on association affiliation has been made.
Serge Gnabry, Jamal Musiala (both FC Bayern) and Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund) make it into both squads. “We want all three, if possible, to have the full two weeks together to give them rhythm. They should be used in the games, always measured and tailored to their respective positions,” Klopp explained. Finn Dahmen also appears in both squads, underscoring his important role.
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The juxtaposition of eleven fresh faces and numerous experienced absences shows how strongly Jürgen Klopp wants to reshape the squad. His words make clear that the coming weeks will be decisive in whether the new names deliver the desired tempo and the necessary balance.