Jurgen Klopp has taken his first steps as Germany's new head coach by announcing two distinct squads for the upcoming Nations League fixtures. In preparation for the four matches against the Netherlands, Serbia and Greece (twice), he has selected a total of 44 players, dividing them into two separate groups. The call‑up list includes 16 individuals who have yet to earn their first senior cap for Germany.
Among the newcomers are Cologne prospect Said El Mala, Max Rosenfelder and Philipp Treu from Freiburg, Derry Scherhant also from Freiburg, and Celtic midfielder Mika Baur. Their inclusion signals Klopp’s willingness to blend fresh talent with established internationals as he builds a team that reflects both experience and potential. Klopp’s selections also feature a few notable omissions.
Stuttgart striker Deniz Undav was left out, a decision Klopp explained was due to fitness concerns rather than form. In addition, long‑time captain Joshua Kimmich will now be deployed in midfield, a shift from the right‑back role he frequently occupied under former coach Julian Nagelsmann.
This tactical adjustment underscores Klopp’s intent to reshape the squad’s structure and to make the most of Kimmich’s versatility. The new coach also confirmed that Marc‑Andre ter Stegen, currently on loan at Ajax from Barcelona, will serve as the first‑choice goalkeeper for the upcoming matches. Other recalls include forward Karim Adeyemi, Leeds United midfielder Anton Stach, and Brentford attacker Kevin Schade, all of whom are expected to add depth and competition in attacking positions. The first of the two groups will be used for the opening two games: a clash with the Netherlands in Amsterdam on Thursday, September 24, followed by a meeting with Greece in Augsburg on September 27.
The second group will take the field against Serbia in Munich on October 1 and then travel to Thessaloniki for the final encounter with Greece on October 4. Beyond the tactical and personnel decisions, Klopp used his introductory press conference to send a political message.
He wore a baseball cap emblazoned with the words "one of 83 million" in the colors of the German flag. The phrase references the nation’s population and was intended as a call for unity during a period of heightened political tension.
The far‑right Alternative for Germany (AfD) had recently secured a decisive victory in the state election in Saxony‑Anhalt, sparking concerns about rising nationalism and division. When asked about the cap’s significance, Klopp replied, "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 that 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 focus on football, it should 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 gesture was widely interpreted as a response to the AfD’s electoral success, which saw the party capture over 43 % of the vote in Saxony‑Anhalt and gain a majority in the state parliament. While the AfD’s surge is most visible in the former East German states, its anti‑immigration and nationalist rhetoric has also resonated in regions of industrial decline across the country. The party’s steady polling at both state and federal levels over recent years has generated anxiety among many citizens, who fear that such sentiments could deepen social fractures. The broader debate sparked by Klopp’s cap touches on a fundamental question: what constitutes acceptable patriotism in contemporary Germany?
The legacy of the Nazi era makes any display of national symbols a delicate matter, and the country’s ongoing grappling with multiculturalism adds further complexity. Symbols like the flag can be embraced as expressions of unity and pride, yet they can also be co‑opted by extremist groups seeking to advance an exclusionary agenda. This tension reflects a deeper, structural division within Germany.
As a federal republic composed of sixteen states, each with its own regional identity, the nation has long balanced diverse local loyalties against a shared national narrative. The current political climate, marked by debates over immigration, economic restructuring, and historical memory, has amplified these competing perspectives. Klopp’s decision to wear the cap, therefore, operates on several levels.
On one hand, it is a personal statement of solidarity with the majority of Germans who feel proud of their country and wish to celebrate it without extremist overtones. On the other, it acknowledges the responsibility of public figures to address the misuse of national symbols by those who would weaponize them for divisive purposes.
In the context of football, Klopp hopes that the sport can serve as a unifying force. By focusing on the game, he believes fans and players alike can find common ground, setting aside political disagreements and fostering a sense of belonging that transcends regional and ideological divides. His emphasis on community, enjoyment, and collective pride aims to reclaim the flag as a symbol of togetherness rather than a banner for fringe movements. The upcoming Nations League fixtures will provide Klopp with an early test of his squad selections, tactical adjustments, and his broader vision for the national team’s role in society.
Whether his approach succeeds on the pitch or resonates off it remains to be seen, but his willingness to speak openly about unity and national identity marks a distinctive start to his tenure. This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
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