New Germany coach Klopp to select first squad

Jürgen Klopp will give a first indication of how he wants to rebuild the German national team after another poor World Cup showing when the new selects his first squad.

Hopes in former Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool coach Klopp are huge, but that also brings a lot of pressure ahead of the first four games in the Nations League against the Netherlands, Serbia and Greece (twice) between September 24 and October 4.

Klopp is widely believed to select a large squad beyond the 23 players allowed on a matchday, to balance the workload especially for the likes of Jamal Musiala and Nico Schlotterbeck and to give new players a chance as well.

Who to choose from 57 candidates

Klopp said at his official presentation in July that he was looking at 57 potential players and he has visited matches and training at clubs from national champions Bayern Munich to Mainz to get a first-hand view.

That was a big change from his predecessor Julian Nagelsmann, who rarely attended matches and then resigned after Germany's round of 32 exit at the World Cup. 

For the final details, Klopp is now putting in a few office shifts at the DFB Campus with his closest confidants.

There are plenty of topics to discuss, such as a comeback for goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, a fitness test for Schlotterbeck and pledges of loyalty to young playmakers Musiala and Florian Wirtz.

Young and fresh names could provide plenty of momentum, such as Said El Mala, Nicolo Tresoldi, Vitali Janelt, Finn Jeltsch or Dzenan Pejcinovic.

In-form Schalke goalkeeper Loris Karius has suddenly become a candidate as well as Klopp starts building his squad with a view to Euro 2028.

Klopp named his overall selection criteria in July, saying:  "Whoever is very good, really wants it and, the moment he puts on the shirt, gets a little bit better and takes off." 

The Kimmich role

Tempo and intensity will be required for Klopp's high-energy football and style is more important than names.

Klopp has decided that he wants to play with strong wingers and a back four which immediately leads to the key personnel decisions.

"I'm not going to hand out positions here now or say where someone will never play again or where he will always play now," Klopp has said.

But it is clear that Joshua Kimmich, whose role as captain is beyond doubt, is supposed to return to midfield where he also plays at Bayern, after being used as a right back by Nagelsmann. 

This is not only demanded by record international Lothar Matthäus, who described Kimmich as a "quarterback".

That would mean Klopp needs a new right-back. Josha Vagnoman is consistently playing well at VfB Stuttgart. In Leipzig, Ridle Baku, on the other hand, is struggling. Nagelsmann did not consider either of them good enough for the World Cup. Frankfurt's Elias Baum may still lack consistency.

Goalkeepers and wingers

Virtually all of Klopp's decisions could be explosive, which is also evident in the goalkeeper position. 

He could declare a complete fresh start and build toward Euro 2028 around uncapped Bayern backup Jonas Urbig. Ter Stegen, back in rhythm at Ajax after missing the World Cup due to months of injury, would be the safety-first option.

Klopp knows that good results are the hardest currency for a coach as euphoria comes from success and not from potential.

Klopp has to answer the formation question. Will he play a 4-3-3 that was so successful at Liverpool, although the personnel speaks more in favour of the tried-and-tested 4-2-3-1. 

He needs fast wide players in any case. Several candidates who were with Nagelsmann but not considered for the World Cup are making statements, such as the Brentford duo of Janelt and Kevin Schade.

Karim Adeyemi has picked up speed again under Hansi Flick at Barcelona while Galatasaray's Leroy Sané is failing to get going at Galatasaray and is among players aged 30+ who have to fight for their national team future.

That could also apply to striker Nick Woltemade, now on loan at Juvents, despite a younger age.

Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is back in international retirement after a brief comeback for the World Cup and defender Antonio Rüdiger has ended his national team career. Klopp's first squad will also not include Leon Goretzka and Assan Ouedraogo due to injury.