Jurgen Klopp begins Germany era by facing Netherlands in Nations League opener

Jurgen Klopp will take charge of Germany for the first time when they face the Netherlands in the Nations League on Thursday, 87 days after their World Cup exit.

The former Liverpool manager has made an enthusiastic start to his new role and said the squad had already responded positively to the change in leadership.

“All the players are willing, so we feel that something is beginning,” Klopp told reporters before Germany travelled to Amsterdam.

He admitted there would be no gradual introduction to international football’s demands, with Germany’s opening fixture coming against a strong Netherlands side managed by Xavi Hernandez.

“In Amsterdam, I have not heard of many friendly matches between the Netherlands and Germany,” Klopp said. “So it starts straight away.”

Klopp rejected the idea that the difficulty of the first test was necessarily a problem.

“I do not know who I would have preferred to play against,” he said. “The Netherlands are a very strong opponent, with a new manager.”

He then joked about his familiarity with the Dutch squad compared with Xavi.

“I know players from the Netherlands personally more than Xavi knows them,” Klopp said. “Is that an advantage? I do not know. But it is a fact anyway.”

The new Germany manager has made developing a fresh identity for the national team one of his early priorities. He also wants his players to embrace the pressure that comes with representing the country.

“The first lesson for our shared future is that we learn to enjoy being under pressure,” Klopp said. “When there is pressure, you know the moment is really important. Full concentration then becomes easier.”

After only two training sessions before the match, Klopp has begun shaping his tactical approach. Germany captain Joshua Kimmich said the squad understood the difficult circumstances surrounding the transition.

“We know that we are coming from a situation that is not easy,” Kimmich said. “With a new manager, there is always a certain amount of initial excitement. The important thing for us is to regain our DNA and our identity.”

Kimmich set for central role

Klopp intends to give Kimmich a central role in midfield, believing the team needs a stable presence at its core while allowing greater freedom elsewhere.

“The team needs stability; it needs an anchor,” Klopp said. “If the anchor is stable, we can be a little crazy on the wings and mix in a lot of young players. Then it works.”

He also indicated that Germany would initially retain much of the continuity from the World Cup.

“We are still relatively strongly committed to what we had at the World Cup,” he said. “It is a team that understands each other and whose players know one another.”

Defensive organisation will be another major focus for Klopp, who described it as the foundation for attacking football.

“I stand by my opinion: footballing quality appears when a team has stability in its defensive behaviour,” he said. “That is the trampoline, the safety net you need. If you think only about attacking, the defence will always kill you.”

Klopp also promised to shield his players from criticism if they give their full effort.

“I will go through fire for the players,” he said. “If the players give everything, I am responsible for the defeats no ifs and no buts.”