Jürgen Klopp names the DFB squad: Take everyone with you if possible

Some thought the rumors were a joke. Even before Jürgen Klopp presented his XXL squad for the upcoming international match phase to journalists at a press conference on Thursday morning, some names had come to the public who had never played an international match in their careers. And even those affected who were called by Klopp in the last few days could hardly believe it.

Bambasé Conté from TSG Hoffenheim apparently found his nomination the funniest. Klopp reported: "Conté laughed the longest. I just said it to Jürgen Klopp, then he laughed for two minutes." Mika Baur from Celtic Glasgow, Felix Keidel from newly promoted Bundesliga club SV Elversberg and many others were probably similarly astonished.

There are four international matches in the two-week international phase. And because Klopp wants to get an overview (“I want to get to know as many players as possible during this time”), he invited a big party to his inauguration. He has put together two squads with 44 players for two games each. These include 16 newcomers.

The national coach himself recalled that in the summer, after the DFB team's early elimination from the World Cup, one could get the impression that German football was completely at rock bottom. The pool of candidates for this country's first team, which Klopp once again explicitly defined on Thursday, gives the feeling that German football is faced with a huge choice given so many highly talented players.

“In the last few weeks, a lot of talent has caught our eye, so much so that not everyone is there.” Klopp spoke to three strikers who will be in the U-21 squad for the time being, as well as injured and currently somewhat weaker players such as Deniz Undav. Klopp is rumored to have drawn up a list of 57 national team candidates in the summer. On Thursday he denied the figure. There were over 60 players. Perhaps it would have been more helpful for a good overview if Klopp had named those who are not eligible for the national team.

The message about the potential of German football was set. Klopp obviously saw his first task a week before the Nations League game in Amsterdam against the Netherlands as being to spread a positive atmosphere. And so in his verbose, enthusiastic lectures, which he followed every question with, it also happened that he had to ask again which question had actually just been asked.

Klopp, this impression emerged, would first like to take as many people with him as possible. According to Klopp, the following motive was said to have guided the selection: “We didn’t look at what we didn’t have, but rather what we did have.” And he didn’t hold back from pointing out that this could also be “an approach” to problems beyond football.

He had previously let his eyes wander beyond the problems of German football. He addressed the elections in Saxony-Anhalt, from which the AfD emerged by far as the strongest party, and declared: "I don't want to leave national pride to the wrong people." And: “I would like to get the flag back for myself or for us.” He recalled the concept of “positive patriotism”.

This was also part of his attempt to spread positivity. Of course, the football he wants to play with the DFB team in the future and the countless new ones were also discussed with lots of excited words.

Klopp indirectly asked for a little patience. His plans would take time. "But we will try everything to make our new approach visible. I expect more immediately. More is always possible." First, he announced, he would concentrate on defense. Football quality only becomes visible when you have defensive stability.

Unlike Julian Nagelsmann, Jürgen Klopp does not need captain Joshua Kimmich for his defensive line. He is planned as a midfielder.

But individual personal details are not of great importance in this XXL line-up anyway. First, national coach Klopp is concerned with something fundamental: “We learn: having fun under pressure is actually cool.” These two words were mentioned most often Thursday morning: “fun” and “cool.”