Jürgen Klopp has reportedly chosen to leave VfB Stuttgart striker Deniz Undav out of his first Germany squad, opting instead for Eintracht Frankfurt forwards Younes Ebnoutalib and Jonathan Burkardt for the upcoming international fixtures, according to reports from Sky Sport.
Klopp’s First Squad Selection Brings Immediate Surprises
As the new national team boss prepares for his opening block of four fixtures, squad composition decisions have taken center stage. According to reporting from Sky Sport, Undav was informed of his omission during a personal conversation with the coaching staff ahead of the official roster announcement scheduled for Thursday at 10:00 a.m. local time.
Undav enters the international break holding a prominent leadership role at Stuttgart, though he is currently searching for his first Bundesliga goal of the ongoing campaign. Despite that domestic drought, the 30-year-old attacker has contributed four assists across all competitions. His record at the international level remains formidable, featuring nine goals in just 13 appearances for Germany. Over the summer at the World Cup under former manager Julian Nagelsmann, Undav scored three goals during the group stage entirely in a substitute role, and Klopp had previously expressed a desire to start the forward prior to the tournament opener against Curaçao.
Frankfurt Attacker Pair Earns the Nod
In place of the Stuttgart star, Klopp has turned to domestic form by selecting Eintracht Frankfurt duo Younes Ebnoutalib and Jonathan Burkardt. For Ebnoutalib, the call-up marks a potential senior debut with the DFB team, carrying added significance given his eligibility to represent Morocco internationally.
The German national team’s upcoming schedule under Klopp features four matches within a tight window: an away fixture against the Netherlands on September 24, a home match against Greece on September 27, a clash with Serbia on October 1, and a return match in Greece on October 4.
Match Schedule and Next Checkpoint
The official squad list will be unveiled by the DFB coaching staff on Thursday morning at 10:00 a.m. local time.
