Klopp begins Germany rebuild with goalkeeper, right-back and identity questions

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Jürgen Klopp has begun his tenure as Germany coach with an unusually broad selection process, giving himself four Nations League matches and a 44-player pool to assess the options available to a team still searching for consistency after another disappointing major tournament.

The new Germany boss has divided his first squad into two groups, allowing him to examine a wide range of players while limiting the workload imposed on those involved in the opening fixtures. The approach reflects a clear priority: gather information quickly while beginning to shape the team for the next international cycle.

The first match under Klopp ended 1-1 against the Netherlands in Amsterdam on September 24. Germany's next Nations League assignment is against Greece in Augsburg, followed by meetings with Serbia in Munich and Greece again in Thessaloniki.

Ter Stegen gets the first opportunity after Neuer

One of Klopp's immediate decisions was to settle the goalkeeping hierarchy. Marc-André ter Stegen has been given the No. 1 role after years spent behind Manuel Neuer and a prolonged period affected by injuries.

The 34-year-old goalkeeper returned to the national team after a lengthy absence and is now rebuilding his rhythm with Ajax Amsterdam. Klopp has emphasized ter Stegen's experience and current fitness while leaving the door open for competition based on performances.

The selection also gives Germany an opportunity to assess younger alternatives. Finn Dahmen is part of both squad groups, while Alexander Nübel, Jonas Urbig and Noah Atubolu have also been included across the four-match programme. Klopp's selection indicates that the position is being evaluated beyond the immediate return of ter Stegen.

For the moment, however, the Ajax goalkeeper represents the starting point of Klopp's solution.

The right side remains an open question

Germany's search for stability at right-back is another major issue facing the new coach.

Joshua Kimmich has frequently filled the position for the national team despite playing in midfield for Bayern Munich. Klopp has instead indicated that he wants to use the captain in midfield, creating an opening on the right side of the defence.

Philipp Treu was given the opportunity against the Netherlands, while players including Josha Vagnoman and Ridle Baku are also part of the wider selection process. The competition provides Klopp with several alternatives as he examines whether Germany can establish a more permanent solution.

The decision is significant because the position has remained unsettled since Philipp Lahm's international retirement. Finding a dependable option would allow Kimmich to remain in the midfield role where he has become one of Germany's central figures.

A 44-player experiment with a long-term objective

Rather than relying on a conventional single squad, Klopp selected 44 players for his first four Nations League matches, including 16 players without a senior international cap.

The structure gives the coaching staff a broader view of the talent available to Germany while allowing established players to avoid being involved in every fixture. Jamal Musiala and Kimmich, among others, are scheduled to feature in only part of the programme.

Klopp has described the project as preparation for the coming two or three years, rather than simply an exercise in filling immediate gaps. His stated objective is to develop players capable of competing at the highest level over the next international cycle.

That makes the Nations League an early testing ground for his broader plans.

Rebuilding enthusiasm around the Mannschaft

Klopp is also inheriting a national team whose connection with supporters has been tested by a series of disappointing tournament campaigns.

Germany failed to progress beyond the group stage at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups before suffering another early exit at the 2026 World Cup. The encouraging run at Euro 2024, played on home soil, ended with a quarter-final defeat by Spain.

The appointment of Klopp has nevertheless generated significant public interest. His first Germany match attracted a substantial television audience in the country, underlining the attention surrounding the beginning of his tenure.

The challenge now is to turn that curiosity into sustained engagement. Results will matter, but so will the development of a recognizable style and a squad capable of giving supporters reasons to believe in the next phase of the national team's development.

Early signs after Amsterdam

The 1-1 draw in the Netherlands provided Klopp with an initial set of indications rather than definitive answers. The DFB coach said after the match that Germany showed intensity, commitment and strong defensive moments, while acknowledging that the team struggled to maintain possession when the Netherlands increased the pressure.

Those observations point directly toward the work ahead. Klopp must decide which players can translate his ideas into competitive international football, while simultaneously establishing reliable solutions in key positions.

The first phase of his Germany project is therefore less about announcing a finished team than identifying the foundations on which one can be built.