Jürgen Klopp has named an unusually large 44-man squad for his first set of fixtures as Germany manager, while simultaneously criticizing journalists for leaking player selections before the official announcement.
Speaking at a press conference in Frankfurt, the 59-year-old manager addressed the premature reveal of midfielder Felix Keidel’s inclusion in the squad. Klopp stated that he had spoken with Keidel regarding the 16 or 17 hours following the leak. While Klopp told reporters, I don’t give a damn that it came out early
, he described the practice of leaking information for professional gain as a bit pathetic
, according to GOAL.
Expanded Squad for Nations League
Klopp took the uncommon step of selecting 44 players for four upcoming Nations League matches, even though matchday lists are limited to 23 players. The manager explained that the decision was driven by a desire to get to know as many players as possible during a condensed schedule of four games in two weeks.
The schedule includes an away match against the Netherlands, a home game against Serbia, and home and away fixtures against Greece. To manage player workload and integrate new talent, Klopp indicated that Kai Havertz and Florian Wirtz will likely be limited to a maximum of two matches.
The squad features several players who have never represented Germany, including Cologne’s Said El Mala, Brentford’s Vitaly Janelt, and Celtic’s Mika Baur. Other first-time call-ups include Eintracht Frankfurt forward Younes Ebnoutalib and Elversberg’s Felix Keidel. Additionally, Karim Adeyemi returns to the national team for the first time in 11 months, while Marc-André ter Stegen of Ajax has become the first-choice goalkeeper following the international retirement of Manuel Neuer. Leroy Sané and striker Deniz Undav were not selected.
Addressing National Pride and Politics
Beyond squad selection, Klopp used the press conference to discuss the role of football in the wake of a recent election victory by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The AfD secured nearly 44% of the vote on 6 September in the former East German state of Saxony-Anhalt.
Klopp advocated for a positive patriotism, stating that he did not want national pride to be entrusted to the wrong people
. He expressed a desire to reclaim the flag
so that when it is waved, observers associate it with happiness and the fortune of living in Germany rather than questioning the intent.
Klopp noted that he believes it is possible to be proud of being German while remaining open, diverse, kind and friendly
. While acknowledging that the country’s priority should be having sufficient caregivers and doctors, he argued that football can foster a sense of community and demonstrate the power of sport.
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