Klopp weighs new options before Germany takes on Greece

In the imposing PAOK stadium in Thessaloniki, just a stone’s throw from the Aegean Sea, the German national team gathers to ride the first wave of euphoria before the final international match of the break. Coach Jürgen Klopp must decide whether to give young players a chance or field the strongest eleven.

Line‑up: Chance versus Best

"We want to put a team on the pitch that has a chance to win the game. How many changes we need for that, we'll have to see tomorrow," Klopp explained at the PAOK stadium. The question of whether to give new players a chance is at the heart of his decision. He also emphasized that the "we" wants to shape the team together after the victory over Serbia.

The focus now lies more on the necessary changes in the squad than on the pure quality of the whole team. After the 2‑0 win over Serbia, Klopp demands "more of that" to give Greece bigger problems than in the first leg. The discussion about possible changes has therefore displaced the previous quality argument.

The win over Serbia finally brought a "superb" mood into the team after two Nations‑League matches without success. Klopp described the squad as "bristling with fight" and highlighted especially Tom Bischof and Aleksandar Pavlovic, who were active everywhere. This eleven displayed the required "how", which is more important than the "who".

Florian Wirtz and Tom Bischof provided brilliant moments that were highlighted as individual analysis after 01.10.2026. The young, eager trio of Bischof, Pavlovic and Wirtz forms the core of the convincing performance. A repeat of this combination could bring the biggest chances of victory against Greece.

"It was incredibly fun to play with the two," Pavlovic said next to Klopp at the press conference. "You could see that all three of us have something with the ball." Wirtz added after the Serbia match: "I think the players around me also made it easy for me today."

Rotation options in the squad

Klopp has several rotation possibilities in mind: Philipp Treu impressed at right‑back both against Serbia and against the Netherlands. The Leipzig full‑backs Ridle Baku and David Raum could again slot into the defensive line. Brajan Gruda is ready to replace Serge Gnabry, while Saïd El Mala might replace Derry Scherhant on the left side.

Lennart Karl depends on his fitness, but his class is undisputed. In attack, Jonathan Burkardt could replace the so‑far largely unsuccessful Nick Woltemade. Debutants such as Treu, Scherhant and Mika Baur have already contributed to the euphoria.

Nations‑League significance

In the Nations‑League battle, the duel against Greece is central, because only the two table‑leaders advance to the knockout phase. At halftime the DFB selection is four points behind the unbeaten table‑leader Greece (seven points) and the Netherlands (five points).

A win would not only boost morale, but also significantly increase the chances of reaching the desired quarter‑final. Thus the decision on the line‑up is of crucial importance for Klopp and the players.