Klopps under win pressure at children's match in Serbia – focus despite distractions
Jürgen Klopp must win with the DFB eleven in Serbia. The national coach is aware of the pressure to win and tries to filter out background noise as best as possible before the tricky test. A “Special Event” is to follow a victory. At the last training, bundled in a winter jacket, Klopp looked closely with his hands buried deep in his pockets. In a brief speech he also gave instructions for Joshua Kimmich, Niclas Füllkrug and Florian Wirtz.
Pressure, Goal and Preparation
Friday evening at 20:45 in the Nations League match in Serbia was the goal. Klopp had reason to be distracted from his sporting focus because the Nmecha goal celebration with religious statements was swirling on the network “Ballers in God”. Additionally, the unusual children’s setting at the Marakana in Belgrade with only 5,000 young spectators plus 50 German fans sparked discussions. The nature of the children’s game is defined by the low attendance of 5,000 young spectators.
Despite these disruptive factors, Klopp carries out his plan for the second international match under his direction. With a win against the bottom team of the complicated Group 2 of the A‑League he wants to keep the path to the quarter‑finals clear. The aim is an emotional “final” to secure a knockout ticket against arch‑rival Holland on Monday in Berlin. The “huge enthusiasm” that Klopp feels was transferred to the players during four preparation days in Franconia with his energy.
“It’s a completely different face, you feel a massive change,” said returnee Niclas Füllkrug. His assessment of the mood in the DFB camp before the flight to Serbia was: “So far everything is positive.”
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Distractions and Controversies
The DFB had to clarify the day before the match that Klopp’s statements about Jesus and God from his Liverpool days were disseminated without his consent. The controversy over Felix Nmecha’s religious declarations to the group “Ballers in God”, which has been classified as homophobic, overlaid the public discourse surrounding the training camp in Herzogenaurach. Such a thought piracy is a real distraction for Klopp. The UEFA sanction against the host because of racist fan excesses resulted in a spectator ban for a quirky mini‑setting before a youthful audience.
“5,000 against 50,” Klopp said, grinning at the farewell event from Adidas in Herzogenaurach. He explained that an unequal power balance with the arena at full capacity of more than 55,000 euphoric supporters would have been even more extreme. UEFA now only allows children up to 14 years old accompanied by caretakers into the stadium. “If the stadium were full, the atmosphere would be there, no question. Now it’s not full. We have our own goals to pursue, we want to play a very, very good football match in our own way and achieve the right result,” demanded the national coach.
Philipp Treu is one of the big beneficiaries under national coach Klopp. Füllkrug and Philipp Treu, Klopp’s Freiburg vertical starter on the right full‑back position, assured that the setting was irrelevant.
Treu focused more on the result target: “As a footballer you play football to win. That’s what the Nations League is for.” The 25‑year‑old wants to, as an unburdened force, further push the World Cup shadows into oblivion and write a positive chapter by reaching the knockout round. “We still have an open group stage. We are already going into the games, right now in Serbia, to work out this final in Berlin as well. That’s what we need to focus on,” promised the very self‑confident Treu.