Klopp keeps Germany team decision under wraps before Netherlands clash

Jurgen Klopp says he already knows which player will be left out of Germany’s squad for Thursday’s UEFA Nations League opener against the Netherlands, but will not reveal his decision until matchday.

Germany’s 24-man squad must be reduced to 23 before the game at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam. Speaking at his pre-match news conference on Wednesday, Klopp said he had already spoken to the player concerned.

“I know who I will leave out, but anything can happen overnight, so I will announce it tomorrow,” he said. “I have already spoken to the player who will be left out, and he will be in the squad next time.”

Klopp was also asked who would start at right-back against the Netherlands. The Germany manager declined to provide an answer while Xavi, his opposite number, had yet to announce the Dutch line-up.

“Can you sleep tonight if you don’t know this?” Klopp said. “Has Xavi announced his starting XI? If he has, I would like to have it. Then we can talk about our line-up too. Let’s wait a little.”

The former Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund manager was unwilling to promise Germany success in the competition, but said his team were working to improve their performances.

“I will not promise anything,” Klopp said. “What I can promise is that we will definitely try. There is an impression that we have less quality than other countries. When things do not go well, you look more closely and try to make changes. That is what we are working on now.”

He added: “We want to be involved in every game to the extent that it gives us a good chance of winning it. We need to adjust our style of play a little, be quicker and make some changes. We have started doing that. Let’s see what happens tomorrow, and hopefully we will see it.”

Klopp plays down Germany-Netherlands rivalry

Klopp said the historic rivalry between Germany and the Netherlands had not been a personal influence, suggesting Rudi Voller would be better placed to discuss it.

“It does not mean anything to me because I have never felt this rivalry,” he said. “It would be better to ask Rudi Voller, as someone who has experienced it directly.”

Klopp acknowledged the significance of the fixture and expected a demanding contest against a talented Dutch side.

“I know what this match means, and the atmosphere will be highly charged tomorrow,” he said. “It will be a difficult game for the players because the opposition are very good, with huge talent and some excellent footballers. It is crazy how many great players the Netherlands have.”

He added that Germany would need to approach the match as a genuine derby if they were to have any chance of success.

“If we want to have any chance at all, we have to treat it as a real derby,” Klopp said. “For us, it is the beginning of something. We want to make a good start. Everything surrounding the match plays only a secondary role.”