Jürgen Klopp has named an expanded 44-man squad across two separate groups for his first fixtures as Germany manager, taking charge of four UEFA Nations League matches against the Netherlands, Greece, and Serbia. Unveiling his roster in Frankfurt, Klopp also urged Germans to reclaim national pride following recent far-right electoral gains.
The Jürgen Klopp era for Die Mannschaft officially began on September 17, 2026, when the former Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund manager announced an unorthodox 44-player roster. Facing an intense schedule of four UEFA Nations League League A Group B fixtures across an extended international break, Klopp opted to split his massive selection into two distinct groups to handle the workload.
Squad 1 will tackle the opening fixtures against the Netherlands and Greece, while Squad 2 takes over for matches against Serbia and a return leg against Greece. The setup cements Ajax’s Marc-André ter Stegen as the first-choice goalkeeper following Manuel Neuer’s international retirement, while Joshua Kimmich shifts back into midfield from defence.
Klopp Defends Expanded Roster and Reaches Out to Jamal Musiala
Managing four games in a two-week span presented a logistical puzzle that inspired Klopp’s split-squad experiment. I want to get to know as many players as possible,
Klopp explained during his Frankfurt press conference, noting that there is no A or B team. The squads are put together in a way that makes sense on the pitch and in terms of character and experience.
Stars such as Florian Wirtz and Kai Havertz are expected to be limited to a maximum of two games to keep their minutes manageable, while 16 uncapped players enter the national team orbit.
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Among those new faces is SV Elversberg 23-year-old midfielder Felix Keidel, whose call-up leaked before the official announcement. Klopp didn’t hide his disdain for the premature reporting, telling reporters that it’s a bit pathetic to make a living by putting things out there earlier than people actually need to know them.
Behind the scenes, the new manager also made direct contact with Bayern Munich star Jamal Musiala. Following a match against Heidenheim marked by a second consecutive neurological absence, Klopp placed a personal phone call to check on the young playmaker’s health. Klopp offered vital reassurance during a difficult physical period.
“You are a central part of my plans for the future. We are counting on you, and we will help you.”
Jamal Musiala, via Sport Bild
Urging Germans to Reclaim the Flag Amid Political Tensions
Beyond tactical selections, Klopp used his unveiling to address a tense national climate. Wearing a baseball cap bearing the slogan one of 83 million
in the colors of the German flag, the 59-year-old manager directly referenced the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany party. The AfD captured nearly 44% of the vote in the former East German state of Saxony-Anhalt on September 6, prompting widespread discussion across the country.
Advocating for what he termed positive patriotism,
Klopp argued that football must serve as a unifying counterweight. I’d like to reclaim the flag for me, or for us, to be totally honest,
he told reporters. I’d like it if, when you’re waving it, no one thinks there’s something wrong with you, but that they just feel you’re happy and you understand you’re lucky to be born in this wonderful country, to grow up here or to have moved here, that you live here. I’d like that a lot.
That protective stance extends off the pitch as well.
Uncapped Prospects and Notable Absentees in the 44-Man Pool
The vast roster gives untried talent a rare audition stage. Alongside Keidel, the squad introduces Eintracht Frankfurt forward Younes Ebnoutalib—who has netted four goals in as many Bundesliga matches this term—alongside Cologne teenager Said El Mala, Celtic’s Mika Baur, Brentford’s Vitaly Janelt, Freiburg’s Max Rosenfelder, and RB Leipzig’s Brajan Gruda.
Conversely, several high-profile names missed the cut entirely. VfB Stuttgart striker Deniz Undav, who led Germany with three goals during the World Cup, was left out alongside Galatasaray winger Leroy Sané, veteran midfielder Pascal Gross, and Aston Villa’s Leon Goretzka.
Klopp’s debut match on the touchline arrives next Wednesday when Germany travels to face the Netherlands, followed three days later by a home fixture against Greece on September 27. Die Mannschaft will then host Serbia on October 1 before concluding the international window away against Greece on October 4.
Worth a look
