Jurgen Klopp has announced two distinct German national team rosters for the forthcoming Nations League fixtures, marking his inaugural move as the country's head coach. In preparation for four games against the Netherlands, Serbia and Greece (twice), he selected a total of 44 players, split into two separate groups.
Among the call‑ups are 16 individuals who have never before earned a senior cap for Germany. These newcomers include Cologne prospect Said El Mala, Max Rosenfelder and Philipp Treu, Derry Scherhant from Freiburg, as well as Celtic midfielder Mika Baur, all of whom are poised to make their debuts under Klopp's stewardship.
Klopp also made a few surprising omissions. Stuttgart striker Deniz Undav was left out, a decision Klopp attributed to fitness concerns. Additionally, the veteran captain Joshua Kimmich will be deployed in midfield, a shift from the right‑back role he frequently occupied under former coach Julian Nagelsmann. The former Liverpool manager also confirmed that Marc‑Andre ter Stegen, currently on loan at Ajax from Barcelona, will serve as Germany's first‑choice goalkeeper.
Other notable recalls include forward Karim Adeyemi, Leeds United midfielder Anton Stach and Brentford attacker Kevin Schade. The first squad will feature in the opening two matches: a clash with the Netherlands in Amsterdam on Thursday, September 24, followed three days later by a home game against 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 Greece encounter on October 4. Beyond tactics, Klopp used his introductory press conference to send a political message.
He wore a baseball cap emblazoned with the phrase "one of 83 million" in the colors of the German flag. The statement was aimed at a nation currently experiencing a turbulent political climate, especially after the far‑right Alternative for Germany (AfD) secured a decisive victory in the recent Saxony‑Anhalt state election.
When asked about the cap, Klopp explained, "We need to rediscover the joy in all of this. I hope I won't have to discuss politics again, but I want to reclaim the flag for us, so people feel proud and grateful to live in this wonderful country. I don't want national pride to be hijacked by the wrong people.
It fills me with pride to do this job, and football should foster community and uplift spirits. We have to create that atmosphere, and we need people who embrace it." The cap was widely interpreted as a direct response to the AfD's strong showing in Saxony‑Anhalt, where the party captured over 43 percent of the vote and secured a governing majority. This result reflects a broader trend of growing support for the AfD across eastern Germany, though the party's influence is not confined to the former East.
Its anti‑immigration, nationalist rhetoric resonates in other regions, particularly in areas suffering from industrial decline, and the party has maintained solid polling numbers at both state and federal levels for several years. For many Germans, the AfD's rise fuels anxiety, anger, and division.
The debate now extends beyond electoral outcomes to deeper questions about the nature of patriotism in contemporary Germany. What does the flag symbolize for different citizens?
The legacy of National Socialism complicates any straightforward expression of national pride, and as Germany grapples with modern challenges such as multiculturalism, symbols of nationalism can be interpreted in divergent ways, sometimes being co‑opted for extremist purposes. This ambiguity highlights a broader societal split. Germany is a federal republic composed of states with distinct regional identities, each offering its own perspective on the nation's evolving political landscape. The conversation about acceptable patriotism, the meaning of the flag, and the role of symbols in public life reflects the country's ongoing struggle to reconcile its history with its present.
Klopp's choice to wear the cap therefore serves as a reminder that sport can be a platform for unity, but it also underscores the delicate balance between national pride and political exploitation. By emphasizing joy, community, and a shared love for the game, he hopes to steer the conversation toward a more inclusive and positive vision of German identity, one that celebrates the country's achievements without allowing extremist narratives to dominate.
The original article appeared in The Athletic and is reproduced here with permission. © 2026 The Athletic Media Company