Jürgen Klopp's Germany era has begun as the new head coach announced his first squad on Thursday.
To manage the newly organized international break that sees the September and October pauses merged into one, Klopp selected 44 players splitting them into two squads across the four games. Klopp did add though, that Nico Schlotterbeck, Jamal Musiala and Serge Gnabry might stay for the whole two weeks. Goalkeeper Finn Dahmen is also in both squads as Klopp wants to take a closer look at him.
"It's unusual to have four games in two weeks," said Klopp at the press conference.
"I want to get to know as many players as possible. There is no A or B team. The squads are put together in a way that makes sense on the pitch and in terms of character and experience.
"There are few names here that will surprise, but we wanted it to be a part of their development," he added.
"We didn't look at what we were missing but rather what we have and realized how much football talent we have."
The biggest surprises were Hoffenheim's Bambase Conte, Stuttgart defender Finn Jeltsch, Celtic's Mika Baur, and Freiburg's Derry Scherhant. Younes Ebnoutalib (23), Frankfurt's breakout forward, and Felix Keidel, the 23-year-old midfielder from Elversberg who has played just three Bundesliga games, were also big surprises. Keidel can also play at right back, but has been predominately used as a holding midfielder since the small-town team won promotion to the top flight.
Politically, Klopp wants to win back the flag
Klopp spoke at length on many subjects, saying he wanted more from his players, that how the team played was more important than who played, and that his whole career had prepared him for this job. He also spoke on what it means to be German in the modern political and social climate.
"I hope that I don't have to talk about politics in future press conferences but from my sporting perspective, I would like to win back the flag. I don't want national pride to be left to the wrong people. I am so proud to do this job and we are a wonderful country," Klopp said.
"It, this team and sport, is here to make us feel better and to develop a sense of togetherness and feel the power of sport," he said, citing Zverev's recent success in tennis and the basketball World Cup. "We are responsible for creating this atmosphere."
ter Stegen one of many old faces who return to Germany squad
Marc-Andre ter Stegen returns to the Germany squad after a lengthy injury layoff, and Klopp called him the number one at the moment. The 33-year-old goalkeeper, who is now playing his club football at Ajax, last appeared for Germany in the Nations League Finals last summer.
"I've known Marc-Andre for a long time," Klopp said.
"He has the right amount of experience. He is a keeper that can play with the ball and he is also an excellent shot-stopper. Everything depends on performance."
Said El Mala was included. The Cologne youngster was a surprise inclusion in Germany's World Cup qualifying campaign in November 2025, but didn't make an appearance. He is widely expected to be one of the faces of this new Germany team under Klopp.
Notable absences in this first Germany squad under the new boss were Deniz Undav, Leroy Sane and Oliver Baumann.
Germany's international break starts in Amsterdam against the Netherlands on September 24, before a home game in Augsburg against Greece three days later. On October 1, Germany are to play Serbia in Munich before traveling to Thessaloniki to play Greece in the final game of the international break on October 4.
Germany's squad for Netherlands (a) and Greece (h)
Goalkeepers
Marc-Andre ter Stegen (33, Ajax)
Alexander Nübel (29, Stuttgart)
Finn Dahmen (28, Augsburg)
Defenders
Hennes Behrens (21, Augsburg)
Max Rosenfelder (23, Freiburg)
Philipp Treu (25, Freiburg)
Jonathan Tah (30, Bayern Munich)
Nico Schlotterbeck (26, Borussia Dortmund)
Nathaniel Brown (23, Eintracht Frankfurt)
Josha Vagnoman (25, Stuttgart)
Yann Aurel Bisseck (25, Inter Milan)
Midfielders
Joshua Kimmich (c) (31, Bayern Munich)
Nadiem Amiri (29, Mainz)
Yannik Engelhardt (25, Freiburg)
Felix Nmecha (25, Borussia Dortmund)
Anton Stach (27, Leeds)
Attackers
Bambasé Conté (23, Hoffenheim)
Kai Havertz (27, Arsenal)
Chris Führich (28, Stuttgart)
Jamal Musiala (23, Bayern Munich)
Lennart Karl (18, Bayern Munich)
Younes Ebnoutalib (23, Eintracht Frankfurt)
Serge Gnabry (31, Bayern Munich)
Kevin Schade (24, Brentford)
Germany's squad for Serbia (h) and Greece (a)
Goalkeepers
Noah Atubolu (24, Eintracht Frankfurt)
Finn Dahmen (28, Augsburg)
Jonas Urbig (23, Bayern Munich)
Defenders
Waldemar Anton (30, Borussia Dortmund)
Ridle Baku (23, Freiburg)
Finn Jeltsch (20, Stuttgart)
Maximilian Mittelstädt (29, Stuttgart)
David Raum (28, RB Leipzig)
Malick Thiaw (25, Newcastle)
Midfielders
Mika Baur (22, Celtic)
Tom Bischof (21, Bayern Munich)
Vitaly Janelt (28, Brentford)
Felix Keidel (23, Elversberg)
Aleksandar Pavlovic (22, Bayern Munich)
Attackers
Jonathan Burkardt (26, Eintracht Frankfurt)
Nick Woltemade (24, Juventus)
Karim Adeyemi (24, Barcelona)
Said El Mala (20, Cologne)
Brajan Gruda (22, RB Leipzig)
Florian Wirtz (23, Liverpool)
Derry Scherhant (23, Freiburg)
