Jurgen Klopp has unveiled two distinct German national team rosters for the upcoming Nations League fixtures, marking his inaugural move as the senior side's head coach. In preparation for the quartet of matches against the Netherlands, Serbia and Greece (twice), Klopp selected a total of 44 players, splitting them into two separate groups.
The combined list features 16 newcomers who have yet to earn a senior cap for Germany. Among them are Cologne's promising striker Said El Mala, Max Rosenfelder and Philipp Treu from Freiburg, Derry Scherhant also from Freiburg, and Celtic's midfield prospect Mika Baur.
Their inclusion signals a clear intent to inject fresh talent and broaden the pool of options for the new manager. Klopp also made a few headline‑grabbing decisions. Stuttgart forward Deniz Undav was left out, a move Klopp explained was driven by fitness concerns rather than form.
In a tactical twist, the long‑time captain Joshua Kimmich will now operate primarily as a midfielder, a shift from the right‑back role he often filled under former coach Julian Nagelsmann. The announcement was accompanied by a promotional note: Sky Sports subscribers can receive a complimentary twelve‑month subscription to The Athletic, plus chances to win tickets and other perks through Sky Sports Rewards, subject to terms and conditions.
Nagelsmann stepped down after Germany’s exit in the round of 32 at the World Cup, a defeat at the hands of Paraguay that prompted a swift change in leadership. Klopp’s first major task is to rebuild confidence and cohesion within the squad.
Goalkeeping duties will be handled by Marc‑Andre ter Stegen, who is currently on loan at Ajax from Barcelona and has been confirmed as the first‑choice keeper. The roster also sees the recall of several players who have been performing well abroad: Karim Adeyemi, Anton Stach of Leeds United, and Brentford forward Kevin Schade. The first of Klopp’s two squads will take on the Netherlands in Amsterdam on Thursday, September 24, followed by a match against Greece in Augsburg on September 27.
The second group will travel to Munich for the encounter with Serbia on October 1, and then head to Thessaloniki for the final Greece fixture on October 4. During his press conference, Klopp made a political statement by wearing a baseball cap emblazoned with the phrase "one of 83 million" in the colors of the German flag.
The country is currently navigating a turbulent political climate, highlighted by the far‑right Alternative for Germany (AfD) achieving a notable electoral victory in the state of Saxony‑Anhalt. When asked about the cap’s significance, Klopp emphasized unity and a desire to reclaim national symbols from extremist appropriation. He said, "We need to rediscover the fun in all of this.
I hope I won't have to talk about political matters in the future. But I want to reclaim the flag for us, so people feel happy and fortunate to live in this wonderful country.
I don't want to leave national pride to the wrong people. It fills me with pride to do this job. When we spend time focused on football, it's meant to foster a sense of community and make us feel better. We have to create that atmosphere, but we also need people who embrace it." Klopp’s cap is widely interpreted as a response to the recent state election results in Saxony‑Anhalt, where the AfD secured over 43 percent of the vote, granting them a majority and underscoring the party’s growing influence in eastern Germany.
However, the AfD’s appeal is not confined to the former East; its anti‑immigration, nationalist rhetoric resonates in other regions, particularly areas experiencing industrial decline. The party’s strong polling at both state and federal levels has been a source of anxiety for many Germans, fueling division and anger. Beyond the immediate political flashpoint, the episode raises broader questions about the acceptable forms of patriotism in Germany. The legacy of National Socialism makes any display of national symbols a delicate matter, and as the country grapples with contemporary challenges such as multiculturalism, the meaning of the flag and expressions of pride can be contested and, at times, co‑opted by extremist groups.
This ambiguity reflects a deeper societal split. Germany is a federal nation composed of states with distinct regional identities, each contributing its own perspective to the national conversation. The ongoing debate over what the flag represents, who gets to define national pride, and how to balance historical memory with modern identity illustrates the complexity of German unity today.
Klopp’s decision to wear the cap, therefore, serves as both a personal statement and a catalyst for discussion about unity, inclusion, and the role of sport in bridging political divides. By foregrounding football as a communal space, he hopes to foster a sense of belonging that transcends partisan lines, reminding citizens that shared experiences on the pitch can help heal broader societal rifts.
The article originally appeared in The Athletic. © 2026 The Athletic Media Company