Jürgen Klopp nominates an XXL squad for the DFB team and calls for positive patriotism

When Jürgen Klopp presented his first squad for the German national soccer team on Thursday morning, the new national coach created something new. Klopp presented two squads for the upcoming four international matches. In total, he nominated 44 players, including 16 newcomers - and only three players older than 30 years.

At his first press conference at the end of July, Klopp said he had a list of 57 outfield players in mind. The national coach is now following up his words “players will have the opportunity who don’t even expect it yet.” That's just consistent and courageous at the same time. The 59-year-old not only creates a lot of options. He rewards what stands above all else when it comes to being able to play for Germany: performance.

Klopp's performance on Thursday was refreshing, pointed and rousing. Klopp achieves what many people fail to do when it comes to responsibility: touching others with words. He was very detailed and positive. “We didn’t look at what we didn’t have, we looked at what we did have,” said Klopp about the selection of players, recalling the days after the World Cup exit at the beginning of July. One had the impression, he said, that there was no talent and no football players in Germany. This is not the case: “We see something in the boys and want to be part of their development.”

Klopp knows that from now on his area of ​​responsibility will be looked at even more closely. His XXL squad is surprising, but it makes sense: there are four international matches scheduled within ten days, and most of the professionals face many challenges at the club in the coming months. Klopp takes this burden into account.

In general, the national coach has done a lot right since he took office. Dortmund, Munich, Stuttgart, Augsburg, Frankfurt and Mainz: Klopp was on tour. He attended what felt like more games in just a few weeks than his predecessor Julian Nagelsmann did in one season. Klopp was there, was present. He exchanged ideas with players, coaches and those responsible. In doing so, he signaled closeness - and gave everyone he spoke to the feeling of being part of the bigger picture. He reported 50 to 60 conversations that he had in person, by telephone or via Facetime.

In times when good communication often falls by the wayside and many people are much more likely to talk about rather than with each other, appreciative behavior like Klopp's stands out.

What this does was shown, for example, last Saturday when Frankfurt played FSV Mainz. Eintracht striker Jonathan Burkardt played a convincing game. He scored one goal and assisted one. Of course, his employer expects him to play well and score goals. But who was sitting up in the stands watching that afternoon? The national coach. A visit like this can inspire and release strength.

Jürgen Klopp knows that he cannot perform miracles. It takes time and patience to get the German team back on track. But the new national coach acts in a visionary manner – and is aware that he has a great deal of responsibility. For the team, but in his role as national coach also a little for the entire country.

Although he doesn't want to make political statements as often in the future, Jürgen Klopp made no secret of the fact on Thursday that he doesn't want to leave patriotism and pride in his own nation to the wrong people. “An election has just taken place in Germany, which some people perhaps thought was okay, but where many people said: For heaven's sake, what happened?” said Klopp about the AfD's 43.8 percent victory in Saxony-Anhalt. "From my athlete's perspective, I say: I would like to get the flag back for us. Positive patriotism - gladly."

It is the feeling of the summer fairytale World Cup in 2006, when millions in Germany waved the flag with pride, that drives him. And that's also why he made his opinion known on Thursday.