Jürgen Klopp evaluates 44 players in opening weeks for Germany

Jürgen Klopp has evaluated more than 40 players across four matches in his opening weeks as Germany’s national team coach, establishing a strict new baseline for squad selection ahead of November’s UEFA Nations League fixtures. The initial phase delivered a mixed set of results, culminating in a 0-0 draw against Greece in Thessaloniki.

Jürgen Klopp Outlines Core Selection Principles

Reflecting on the grueling four-match block, Klopp expressed astonishment at how quickly the squad absorbed his tactical demands.

Den ersten Schritt haben wir gemacht. Und als Fazit kann ich sagen: Damit bin ich super-happy.

Jürgen Klopp

Für jeden, der bereit ist, diese Art Fußball zu spielen, steht die Tür sperrangelweit offen.

New Talents Emerge as Squad Winners

The demanding evaluation period produced several clear winners among younger and fringe players. Goalkeeper Jonas Urbig secured two clean sheets, delivering a standout performance in Greece that positions him as a genuine challenger to Marc-André ter Stegen for the number one spot.

Freiburg defender Philipp Treu emerged as a major revelation, logging more playing time than any other German teammate across three appearances. Treu effectively addresses a persistent problem position at right-back. Additional standouts include midfielder Tom Bischof, who scored against Serbia, and winger Derry Scherhant, whom television pundit Lothar Matthäus tipped for a spot in November’s squad.

Joshua Kimmich Faces Pressure

While emerging talents gained ground, team captain Joshua Kimmich found himself categorized among the period’s notable losers. Klopp released Kimmich home after the opening two fixtures despite the player’s desire to remain with the XXL squad. The manager avoided issuing an unconditional endorsement of the Bayern Munich star.

Meanwhile, numerous novices such as Nick Woltemade struggled to make an impact, with Woltemade missing a close-range opportunity against Serbia.

Squad Reduction Scheduled for November

Klopp intends to trim his massive player pool down to a traditional roster of 23 to 24 players ahead of the upcoming Nations League encounters against Serbia and the Netherlands. The manager insisted that German football suffers from no shortage of talent, pointing to the depth of alternatives he uncovered during the two-week assessment.

Ich habe in zwei Wochen mit 44 deutschen Fußballspielern zusammengearbeitet, denen fehlt ganz sicher kein Talent. Wir können verschiedene Dinge besser, als man momentan glaubt

Jürgen Klopp

Additional Squad Assessments Under the New Coach

The extensive casting process highlighted varied trajectories across the 44-man roster, with several players establishing new standing while others failed to feature. Aleksandar Pavlovic impressed alongside Tom Bischof in central midfield, and Florian Wirtz presented a significantly improved form during the matches. Meanwhile, defensive options such as Yann Aurel Bisseck, Malick Thiaw, and Waldemar Anton performed strongly in the backline, and Maximilian Mittelstädt reasserted himself on the left flank.

Conversely, several squad members experienced minimal or zero involvement during the international break. Goalkeepers Noah Atubolu and Finn Dahmen did not play a single second, a fate shared by outfield players Max Rosenfelder, Ridle Baku, Finn Jeltsch, and Felix Keidel. Vitaly Janelt received two minutes of playing time, Hennes Behrens logged six minutes, and Yannik Engelhardt played ten minutes.