In total, 44 different players have been called up, with goalkeeper Finn Dahmen the only player included in both squads. No fewer than 16 players are still waiting to make their senior international debut. Klopp is therefore clearly using his first camp as an opportunity to assess a broad range of players – without abandoning an established core of experienced leaders.
Kimmich leads the more experienced first squad
The squad for the difficult opener in Amsterdam and the subsequent home match against Greece contains the more prominent spine. Joshua Kimmich remains the central leadership figure and is likely to be used more regularly in central midfield under Klopp. With 114 senior caps, the Bayern player is by far the most experienced outfield player across the two squads.
Klopp has surrounded Kimmich with several players expected to play important roles on the road to Euro 2028. Jonathan Tah and Nico Schlotterbeck form the most experienced centre-back pairing, while Jamal Musiala is being reintegrated into the national team after his injury. Kai Havertz is one of only two recognised strikers in the squad and, like Serge Gnabry, is expected to take on greater responsibility.
The open goalkeeping question will also initially be answered in this group. Marc-André ter Stegen returns after his lengthy injury lay-off and is expected to reclaim the No.1 shirt following Manuel Neuer’s definitive retirement. His move to Ajax Amsterdam has provided him with regular match practice – and fittingly, Klopp’s debut against the Netherlands will take place at ter Stegen’s current home stadium. Alexander Nübel and Finn Dahmen complete the goalkeeping trio.
Seven potential debutants in the first squad
Despite the experienced spine, this is anything but a conservative selection. Seven players in the group are still waiting for their first senior cap: Dahmen, Hennes Behrens, Max Rosenfelder, Philipp Treu, Bambasé Conté, Yannik Engelhardt and Younes Ebnoutalib.
Ebnoutalib is one of the most intriguing names. The 23-year-old striker only made his breakthrough at SV Elversberg before moving to Eintracht Frankfurt, where he has started the season strongly. Just a few years ago he was still playing lower-league football; now he has earned a chance with the senior national team.
Behrens and Conté are also notable inclusions. The 21-year-old Behrens immediately established himself as a regular after moving to FC Augsburg, while Conté has impressed at Hoffenheim with his dynamism and versatility. Rosenfelder and Treu, meanwhile, have been rewarded for their consistent performances at SC Freiburg.
Second squad significantly more experimental
Klopp has been even bolder with his selection for the matches against Serbia and Greece. Several leading players from the first block are absent, including Kimmich, Musiala, Tah, Schlotterbeck and Havertz.
Responsibility is instead spread across a younger core. Waldemar Anton is the most experienced defender, while Maximilian Mittelstädt and David Raum also bring considerable international experience. Aleksandar Pavlović is likely to assume an important role in midfield, with Florian Wirtz the clear creative focal point of the side. Up front, Jonathan Burkardt and Nick Woltemade are two strikers who have now established themselves at the highest level.
It is particularly striking how much pace Klopp has selected in attacking areas. Karim Adeyemi, now at FC Barcelona, Saïd El Mala, Brajan Gruda and Derry Scherhant are all players capable of attacking space at high speed. That profile naturally fits a coach whose club teams have long been defined by aggressive pressing, fast transitions and runs in behind the defensive line.
Keidel, Baur and Janelt among the biggest surprises
Perhaps the most surprising call-up is Felix Keidel. The 23-year-old was still playing in the 2. Bundesliga only a few months ago and has only recently gained his first Bundesliga experience with promoted Elversberg. Keidel can play both as a defensive midfielder and at right-back, and has now been handed an immediate opportunity with the national team.
Mika Baur of Celtic was another player few expected to see in the squad. The technically gifted attacking midfielder has developed quickly since moving to Scotland and will now be assessed alongside Vitaly Janelt. The Brentford midfielder has been performing at a strong Premier League level for several years but had never previously been called up by Germany.
Other potential debutants in the second squad are Noah Atubolu, Jonas Urbig, Finn Jeltsch, Saïd El Mala, Brajan Gruda and Derry Scherhant. Atubolu has impressed since moving to Eintracht Frankfurt, including with a number of strong penalty saves, while Jeltsch has already established himself as a regular at VfB Stuttgart despite his young age.
Several prominent names miss out completely
With 44 players selected, the omissions inevitably attract attention. Oliver Baumann has been left out following ter Stegen’s return, while Loris Karius has also missed out despite strong performances for Schalke.
Among the outfield players, Leroy Sané, Deniz Undav, Pascal Groß, Angelo Stiller and Jamie Leweling are all absent. Undav and Stiller in particular could reasonably have expected a call-up based on their performances in recent months, although Stiller was recently forced off injured for Stuttgart. Sané, meanwhile, was still part of Germany’s World Cup squad, but appears not to have done enough since his move to Galatasaray to convince Klopp.
Assan Ouédraogo would probably also have been under consideration, but is unavailable after suffering another shoulder injury.
The message from Klopp’s first selection is therefore clear: the hierarchy is not yet set in stone. Alongside a defined core featuring Kimmich, ter Stegen, Tah, Musiala, Wirtz and Havertz, the new head coach has opened the door remarkably wide. Germany’s four Nations League matches will therefore also serve as a major audition for the next generation of national-team players.
Squad against the Netherlands and Greece
Goalkeepers: Finn Dahmen (FC Augsburg), Alexander Nübel (Beşiktaş), Marc-André ter Stegen (Ajax Amsterdam)
Defenders: Hennes Behrens (FC Augsburg), Yann Aurel Bisseck (Inter Milan), Nathaniel Brown (Bayern Munich), Max Rosenfelder (SC Freiburg), Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), Jonathan Tah (Bayern Munich), Philipp Treu (SC Freiburg), Josha Vagnoman (VfB Stuttgart)
Midfielders: Nadiem Amiri (1. FSV Mainz 05), Bambasé Conté (TSG Hoffenheim), Yannik Engelhardt (SC Freiburg), Chris Führich (VfB Stuttgart), Serge Gnabry (Bayern Munich), Lennart Karl (Bayern Munich), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Felix Nmecha (Borussia Dortmund), Kevin Schade (Brentford FC), Anton Stach (Leeds United)
Forwards: Younes Ebnoutalib (Eintracht Frankfurt), Kai Havertz (Arsenal FC)
Squad against Serbia and Greece
Goalkeepers: Noah Atubolu (Eintracht Frankfurt), Finn Dahmen (FC Augsburg), Jonas Urbig (Bayern Munich)
Defenders: Waldemar Anton (Borussia Dortmund), Ridle Baku (RB Leipzig), Finn Jeltsch (VfB Stuttgart), Maximilian Mittelstädt (VfB Stuttgart), David Raum (RB Leipzig), Malick Thiaw (Newcastle United)
Midfielders: Karim Adeyemi (FC Barcelona), Mika Baur (Celtic), Tom Bischof (Bayern Munich), Saïd El Mala (1. FC Köln), Brajan Gruda (RB Leipzig), Vitaly Janelt (Brentford FC), Felix Keidel (SV Elversberg), Aleksandar Pavlović (Bayern Munich), Derry Scherhant (SC Freiburg), Florian Wirtz (Liverpool FC)
Forwards: Jonathan Burkardt (Eintracht Frankfurt), Nick Woltemade (Juventus)
