With his filling jug decision, Klopp is sending important signals

In the much-discussed and controversial Niclas Füllkrug case, Jürgen Klopp made the right decision. The national soccer coach is taking the Werder Bremen striker with him on the upcoming international trip in the Nations League to the games in Belgrade against Serbia (November 13th) and in Berlin against the Netherlands (November 16th) in the coming weeks. Although Füllkrug is already 33 years old and at first glance doesn't completely fit in with Klopp's football, the coach's decision makes sense.

Klopp is sending important signals. First: The performance principle applies under me. I reward very good form. Secondly, not everything under me is geared towards the 2028 European Championships in Great Britain. Short-term success is important, the present counts. Third: My ideas and my system leave room for adjustments.

Klopp will not be unfaithful to himself with the nomination. In general, he will continue to rejuvenate the team after the embarrassing performance at the World Cup under his unsuccessful predecessor Julian Nagelsmann; the urgently needed rebuild is the priority. But experience and accuracy can help enormously. The team needs guys and players in the best possible shape. This shape has filling jug. In the short term it doesn't have to mean: perspective player or filling pitcher. It has to mean: perspective player and filling pitcher.

In the first four international matches under Klopp, no striker scored a goal. Apart from Kai Havertz from Arsenal FC, no player appears to be in the squad in attack. To avoid relegation from the Nations League, Germany needs victories now.

Füllkrug's quota of 14 goals in 24 international matches speaks for him. He scored at least one goal in seven Werder games in a row, equaling the record set by legend Rudi Völler, who achieved this in the 1982/83 Bundesliga season.

With nine goals after eight match days, Füllkrug leads the top scorers list in the Bundesliga and also scored twice in the DFB Cup against Borussia Dortmund. And: He hasn't been out due to injury so far this season. Record national player Lothar Matthäus rightly described Füllkrug's nomination in his Sky column as having almost no alternative.

Füllkrug proved at the 2024 European Championships in Germany that his personality fits into the national team and that he is a player who leads the way. He identifies strongly with the selection. He is extremely popular within the team and among the fans. He can only be good for the new national team. He was not part of the German Football Association squad for almost a year and a half. It is a spectacular and consequential return.

Klopp knows how important the audience's identification and affection are. Füllkrug may not be the fastest of strikers, but goals, assists, experience, instinct and absolute commitment are compatible with every tactic and philosophy. Pressing runs and tempo regardless.

Füllkrug could even make the German game more variable. With his header strength and instinct in the penalty area, the attacker can be particularly valuable against deep opponents. Also or especially as a substitute.

At the European Championships in two years, Füllkrug will be 35 years old. But that doesn't play a decisive role at the moment. The currently best German players should and must play in the national team. Niclas Füllkrug is one of them. He looks fitter than ever and is obviously in the form of his life. And he truly deserves this nomination, which will mean a lot to him.