Klopp names two Germany squads as he begins tenure with bold selection overhaul

Jurgen Klopp has taken an unusual approach to his first Germany squad, naming two separate groups of players for the team’s opening fixtures under his management.

The former Liverpool manager had been without a coaching role since leaving the club two years ago. During that period, he worked as sporting director at Red Bull and as a consultant in several areas before succeeding Julian Nagelsmann as Germany head coach.

Klopp’s first news conference attracted considerable attention, with the new manager saying he would resign if he faced criticism he considered excessively harsh.

According to Foot Mercato, Klopp has selected 24 players for Nations League matches against the Netherlands on 24 September and Greece on 27 September. A second group of 21 players will face Serbia on 1 October before playing Greece again on 4 October. The two squads will meet on 27 September.

The plan is intended to give as many players as possible an opportunity to play before Klopp finalises his choices. Sixteen of those called up featured at the most recent World Cup, while another 16 could make their international debuts. Eleven players have received their first Germany call-up.

They include Said El Mala of Koln, Noah Atubolu and Younes Ebnoutalib of Eintracht Frankfurt, Mika Baur of Celtic and four Freiburg players: Max Rosenfelder, Philipp Treu, Yannick Engelhardt and Derry Scherhant.

Joshua Kimmich will captain the side, while Marc-Andre ter Stegen returns after a 15-month absence. Goalkeeper Finn Dahmen has been included in both squads.

Deniz Undav and Leroy Sane are among the notable omissions. Oliver Baumann was also left out, while Leon Goretzka is injured and Angelo Stiller is ill.

First squad

Goalkeepers: Finn Dahmen (Augsburg), Alexander Nubel (Besiktas), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Ajax Amsterdam).

Defenders: Hennes Behrens (Augsburg), Jan-Urel Bisseck (Inter Milan), Nathaniel Brown (Bayern Munich), Max Rosenfelder (Freiburg), Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), Jonathan Tah (Bayern Munich), Philipp Treu (Freiburg), Josha Vagnoman (Stuttgart).

Midfielders: Nadiem Amiri (Mainz), Bambase Conte (TSG Hoffenheim), Yannick Engelhardt (Freiburg), Chris Fuhrich (Stuttgart), Serge Gnabry (Bayern Munich), Lennart Karl (Bayern Munich), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Felix Nmecha (Borussia Dortmund), Kevin Schade (Brentford), Anton Stach (Leeds United).

Forwards: Younes Ebnoutalib (Eintracht Frankfurt), Kai Havertz (Arsenal).

Second squad

Goalkeepers: Noah Atubolu (Eintracht Frankfurt), Finn Dahmen (Augsburg), Jonas Urbig (Bayern Munich).

Defenders: Waldemar Anton (Borussia Dortmund), Ridle Baku (RB Leipzig), Finn Jeltsch (Stuttgart), Maximilian Mittelstadt (Stuttgart), David Raum (RB Leipzig), Malick Thiaw (Newcastle United).

Midfielders: Karim Adeyemi (Barcelona), Mika Baur (Celtic), Tom Bischof (Bayern Munich), Said El Mala (Koln), Brajan Gruda (RB Leipzig), Vitaly Janelt (Brentford), Felix Keidel (Elversberg), Aleksandar Pavlovic (Bayern Munich), Derry Scherhant (Freiburg), Florian Wirtz (Liverpool).

Forwards: Jonathan Burkardt (Eintracht Frankfurt), Nick Woltemade (Juventus Turin).