Jürgen Klopp starts as national coach with an XXL squad

Jürgen Klopp is making his start as national coach an XXL sighting after the German national team's next World Cup flop in the summer. The new DFB head coach begins his first four international matches in the Nations League with a record-sized double squad. The fans will see many new and partly unknown faces.

Klopp's first DFB squad includes a total of 44 players, including 16 World Cup drivers, numerous returnees such as Marc-André ter Stegen, Serge Gnabry and Karim Adeyemi as well as 16 players without international caps. Where there are surprising winners such as Mika Baur, Bambasé Conté, Vitaly Janelt or Felix Keidel, there are also losers in Klopp's first nomination.

Four prominent names are missing from his long nomination list. Above all, Leroy Sané, who was part of the national team's starting eleven at the World Cup. “Leroy hasn’t really found his feet yet this season,” said Klopp about the Galatasaray Istanbul attacker. He also hasn't had any contact with him yet: "I'll talk to him, but I haven't done so yet. I've made over 50 or 60 phone calls. There has to be substance there and not just: 'Hi, here I am!'"

“Undav hasn’t really found his way into the season yet”

Klopp also chose this reason for rejecting Deniz Undav, who was one of the national team's few bright spots at the World Cup. But Klopp personally informed the VfB Stuttgart striker of his decision: "I spoke to Deniz Undav. Deniz hasn't really found his way into the season yet. I wanted to choose four strikers and have decided on the others for the moment."

Oliver Baumann had to experience the next bitter disappointment. Shortly before the World Cup, the TSG Hoffenheim goalkeeper lost his regular place to Manuel Neuer, who was brought back, and had to watch the World Cup from the bench despite his previous strong performance. The 36-year-old plays no role in the new beginning under Klopp. "I chose Marc-André ter Stegen in this experienced position. And then I wanted to have the next generation," said Klopp.