News (engl.)

Germany head coach Jürgen Klopp named his squad for the start of the 2026/27 Nations League on Thursday and explained the thinking behind his selections and plans at his press conference. DFB.de has rounded up the key quotes.

Jürgen Klopp on...

...his squad selection: “We’ve packed a lot into the past month. Putting the squad together was great fun. We took a different approach and focused not on what we don’t have, but on what we do have. We want to help prepare these players to be competing at the very top over the next two or three years. It’s important that they want to keep developing themselves. You have to be given an opportunity, but then you also have to take it. That’s exactly how we want to approach things. There are a few lads in the squad who might surprise people, but we saw something in them and we want to play a part in their development. So much talent has caught our eye over the past few weeks – so much, in fact, that we couldn’t include everyone. I’m really happy with the group we’ve selected. The conversations with the players were excellent and I really enjoyed speaking to them. One thing I can say is that representing the national team means an incredible amount to every single one of them.”

...splitting the squad: “The main reason is that playing four internationals in quick succession is unusual. Some players will still be playing for their clubs on Sunday, so the turnaround in the first week is very tight. That’s why, with the first group, we’ve largely based things around the World Cup squad so that we have a team who already know each other and are used to playing together. At the same time, I want to get to know as many players as possible during this period. I’ve been travelling around and meeting a lot of the players personally because I wanted to get a feel for them as footballers. We haven’t picked an A team and a B team. We want to win all four games. The two groups have been put together so that there’s a good balance in terms of positions and personalities, as well as between experienced players and those who are newer to the international set-up.”

...his approach: “I’m new to coaching at international level and I’m aware of the situation. What isn’t new to me is putting a squad together. The aim is always to win the next game.”

...players featuring in both squads: “The plan is for some players from the first group to stay on. There are three in particular who have had a difficult period: Nico Schlotterbeck, Jamal Musiala and Serge Gnabry. We want to have them with us for the full two weeks to help them get back into a rhythm. That decision has been tailored to their individual circumstances. Finn Dahmen is also in both squads. He’s a very talented goalkeeper and I’d like to have a longer look at him.”

...his number one: “For the moment, the goalkeeper who will start the first game is Marc-André ter Stegen. The team needs stability and a strong spine. If you have that stability through the middle, you can bring plenty of youth into the side around it. I’ve known Marc-André for a very long time. For years, he was the best goalkeeper in the world behind Manuel Neuer. He suffered an injury at a really unfortunate time, but he’s fit again now and he’s still the same goalkeeper he was before. He brings the experience we need and he’s doing a very good job at Ajax.”

...selection in general: “Everything depends on performance. If players aren’t performing, then of course that will have an impact. But the door isn’t closed for players who aren’t here this time and who may be going through a difficult spell at the moment. It’s about being ready for the next game and showing that playing for the national team means everything to you.”

...Joshua Kimmich in midfield: “I want to see the same things from him that he delivers week in, week out for Bayern. A player with his experience has to lead from the front, there’s no question about that. We have to adapt to a new style of football and there are tactical areas we want to work on quickly. Stability starts with the defensive side of the game and I need every single player for that. I expect him to give us everything he has every time he plays for Germany. I’ve got no doubts that he will. We see him as a midfielder.”

...the value of pressure: “Lesson number one is learning to enjoy playing under pressure. When there’s pressure, it means something is at stake and that it matters. That allows you to focus completely. If you look at their potential, they’re all good enough. We have to work out how we can help these lads, together with their club coaches. I don’t believe a player has to come through every single age group at international level to be good enough. We’ll support them along the way, but ultimately it’s down to them as well. It isn’t about who plays, but how we play. The way we play has to be what defines us, and we don’t have much time to establish that. We’ll do everything we can to make a new approach visible straight away. I expect more immediately. It might be a little wild at times, and I can live with that, but it has to have energy. I intend to use the periods between international windows to stay in close contact. A team’s footballing quality really comes to the fore once it has defensive stability. We can help turn this enormous potential into genuine quality. That’s our job.”

...the challenge of being an international coach: “The job is different to being a club coach, but that doesn’t matter. Would I like more time with the national team? Yes. Do I have it? No. Every conversation I’ve had has already given me a better feel for the player, and the same goes the other way. Not having enough time is completely normal in football. Of course we need to grow together as a team, and there will have to be steps along the way. I didn’t select players based on age. I said that anyone who wants to be part of this has a chance. It doesn’t matter that I don’t have enough time; every other international coach is in the same position. We’re starting to put these squads together, and this isn’t the final step. It’s the first.”

...the players who weren’t called up: “They all took it respectfully. None of these decisions are final; they’re simply decisions for this moment. For example, I chose Marc-André ter Stegen for the experienced goalkeeper role, and behind him I wanted to bring in the next generation. Wherever possible, the players were also given feedback on why they hadn’t been selected.”

...‘positive patriotism’: “I’d like us to reclaim the flag in a way. I want us to be able to wave it without anyone thinking there’s something wrong with you for doing so. It should simply mean that you’re happy and that you appreciate how fortunate you are to have been born in, grown up in or moved to this wonderful country. I don’t want to leave national pride to the wrong people. At the same time, I don’t even know whether you can still use that term without it being misunderstood. So I’d rather talk about positive patriotism. I genuinely think Germany is a wonderful country. I can be proud to be German while still being open, diverse, kind and welcoming.”