Klopp Shakes Up Germany Squad, Names 16 Potential Debutants In 44-Man List

Germany head coach Jurgen Klopp has named a 44-man squad for his first international camp in charge of the national team, with 16 players included who could make their international debuts.

According to Bush Radio Academy, Klopp announced the squad on Thursday ahead of Germany’s four Nations League fixtures against the Netherlands, Greece and Serbia. The coach has divided the large squad into two groups to manage the demanding schedule, which features four matches within two weeks.

The first group will face the Netherlands in Amsterdam on September 24 before taking on Greece in Augsburg three days later. The second group is scheduled to play Serbia in Munich on October 1 before travelling to Thessaloniki for another meeting with Greece on October 4.

Although teams are permitted to select only 20 outfield players and three goalkeepers for each match, Klopp opted for a larger pool to give him the opportunity to assess as many players as possible during the busy international window.

Klopp explained that the unusual schedule provided an opportunity to get to know a wider group of players, stressing that the two squads were not intended to represent an A team and a B team but were selected to work effectively as units.

The former Liverpool manager took over from Julian Nagelsmann in July after Germany suffered another early World Cup exit. Klopp has indicated that his plans extend beyond the immediate Nations League fixtures, with an emphasis on developing a squad capable of competing at the highest level over the next several years.

Among the 16 players in line for their first international appearances are Eintracht Frankfurt forward Younes Ebnoutalib, Stuttgart defender Finn Jeltsch, Brentford midfielder Vitaly Janelt and Celtic midfielder Mika Baur.

Klopp has left several established names out of the squad, including Leroy Sané, Deniz Undav, Leon Goretzka and goalkeeper Oliver Baumann. Undav, who impressed during the World Cup, reportedly requires additional recovery time from an Achilles tendon injury.

Former Germany internationals Manuel Neuer and Antonio Rudiger are also unavailable after retiring from international football.

Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen has been named as Klopp’s preferred first-choice goalkeeper for the time being. The goalkeeper joined Ajax on a season-long loan during the summer after injuries restricted him to 12 competitive appearances over the previous two seasons.

Joshua Kimmich remains Germany’s captain and enters the camp as the squad’s most experienced player with 114 international appearances. The Bayern Munich midfielder is expected to operate in central midfield rather than his customary right-back position for the national team.

Klopp said the new players could become important components of Germany’s long-term plans, noting that the coaching staff had identified significant potential among several of the newcomers and wanted to contribute to their development.