Klopp begins Germany tenure with Nations League test against Netherlands

Jürgen Klopp officially began his tenure as Germany head coach on Monday, welcoming the first 24 players to the team base in Herzogenaurach. The squad includes returning goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen and several uncapped players such as Philipp Treu. Klopp acknowledged the tight schedule, stating he would have preferred more preparation time but must work pragmatically with four Nations League matches in quick succession.

The first full team training session is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon after initial marketing obligations and a photo shoot. Only a small group featuring Bayern Munich players Joshua Kimmich, Jamal Musiala, and Kevin Schade, plus the recovered Nico Schlotterbeck, were available for the opening session on Monday. Leipzig midfielder Brajan Gruda has already withdrawn from the squad due to an abdominal muscle strain.

“Would I like more time with the national team? Yes! Do I have it? No!”

Germany face the Netherlands in Amsterdam on Thursday, followed by a home match against Greece. Klopp has split the 44-man squad into two groups to manage the workload across the four fixtures, which also include games against Serbia. The new coach aims to build a long-term project targeting the 2030 World Cup, emphasising closer cooperation between the DFB, clubs, and youth academies.