New German men’s national team coach Jürgen Klopp is set to announce his very first squad this week as the DFB revamp begins in earnest following a disappointing performance at the 2026 Men’s World Cup. We checked in with the BFW staff to see who they’re most excited by, who might be getting left out in the cold, and what else they see when they peer into their crystal balls.
Germany will have a run of four Nation’s League matches in the newly combined September-October international period, with
matches against Netherlands, Greece, Serbia, and then Greece again.
Michael Scott aka LoneStar249
Biggest new addition: Tom Bischof
The addition of Bischof will reset the locker room leadership at the beginning of Jürgen Klopp’s tenure as the national team manager. He has been the captain for Germany’s youth teams for years and will usher in the new era of players that Germany desperately needs to reestablish themselves as a powerhouse squad. The old guard failed to accomplish anything of value over the last 12 years and Klopp will need the young guns to take over sooner rather than later.
Biggest omission: Deniz Undav
Klopp prefers pacey attackers that attack relentlessly in 1-v-1 situations. This will benefit players like Lennart Karl but will eliminate a lot of the older forwards like Undav or Tim Kleindienst. Nick Woltemade is another candidate for this category and will need to find better form to stay in the squad but time is on his side after the loan move to Juventus.
Key player: Nico Schlotterbeck
Antonio Rüdiger and Jonathan Tah are on the wrong side of 30 years old and the backline is peppered with younger yet promising players. Like Bischof, Schlotterbeck needs to cement himself as a leader and he has showcased the versatility, size, and athleticism to thrive under Klopp.
zippy
Biggest new addition: Said El Mala
The 1. FC Köln winger was on the cusp of Julian Nagelsmann’s squad for last summer’s World Cup after a breakout Bundesliga campaign in 2025/26 in which he scored 13 goals and notched four assists. El Mala, who just turned 20, is a fast riser whose time is coming soon. Heavily linked to bigger clubs this summer, the youngster is staying in Köln for now and that is likely the best scenario for his development in a crucial year that should also serve as his introduction to the senior national team. There are going to be places up for grabs on the wings. This is El Mala’s time to lock one down.
Honorable mentions: Rocco Reitz. The former Borussia Mönchengladbach academy player, now at RB Leipzig, is a highly energetic midfielder with a nose for the ball and as well as for goal. He runs with an energy that calls to mind Konrad Laimer — hey, maybe he can play right-back? — and definitely gives Kloppian “heavy metal football”.
Just look at this press, forward run, and goal:
Unfortunately, the 24-year-old is also out for the time being with an injury.
Biggest omission: Leroy Sané
At this point it would no longer be a surprise, but the former Bayern Munich and Manchester City winger was a key player under Nagelsmann at the World Cup — despite a less than convincing season at Galatasaray. His inclusion in the XI seemed both an accommodation for the rest of the setup, namely Joshua Kimmich at right-back, and an admission that better options simply did not emerge.
But looking forward, it is harder and harder to see Sané in the Germany picture. The next major tournament is two summers away, and this is the time to give younger prospects a look. Bayern’s Lennart Karl already looks on the cusp.
A new system that asks the right-back to cover the flanks himself could see a shift in profile and in the attacking patterns of play. With that, a totally different look at right wing?
Key player: Kai Havertz
The Arsenal man is not always appreciated by Germany fans yearning for the next Miroslav Klosé — but the Gunners know how important he is, and so does every coach that has signed and played him.
And he’s looked in fine form to begin the season — six starts, three goals on the scoresheet in all competitions and an incredible level of understanding with his teammates. This team goal from Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Chelsea against has one of the prettiest constructions you will ever see:
That kind of play — working the spaces and enabling his teammates around him — suits Klopp’s style and Germany’s forward players well. It is hard to imagine a Germany attack that is not built around him.
Jack Laushway
Biggest new addition: Brajan Gruda
There is a clear gap in this squad right now and it is attacking talent. While Kai Havertz is a solid choice at striker, there are large question marks towards the wing and attacking midfield. With Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala, and more out of form, who will step up?
Alongside Lennart Karl, Brajan Gruda seems like the type of player right now who is ready to make the next step based on what he’s shown so far this season with RB Leipzig and adds that wicked pace that Germany has desperately missed in recent years. Honorable mention to both Karim Adeyemi and Kevin Schade who have started off their respective seasons in fine form.
Biggest omission: Nick Woltemade
This was the hardest one to pick as we really have no clue what Jürgen Klopp is cooking up, and without any sort of formation in mind, it isn’t easy to speculate who he will bring. Nick Woltemade seems like he could be one of the players left out this time around as the tall striker is out of form and out of regular starting minutes at club level.
While I still back Woltemade as a top striker on his day, it seems like he needs some time before we see him back at his best. Perhaps Klopp gives Nicolo Tresoldi a call instead?
Key player: Matthias Ginter
This one might come as a shock for those who haven’t been watching Freiburg but Ginter could make the jump all the way from the outside looking in, to a star of this team during this international break. With Nico Schlotterbeck missing time injured and Antonio Rüdiger retiring from the national team, could Ginter make the most of a unique opportunity?
One could not blame Klopp for taking the chance on someone younger like Malick Thiaw or Finn Jeltsch, but the Freiburg defender has been elite for Freiburg for the last year and could be a veteran presence for a changing of the guard time for Germany. If he is given that chance, there is no doubt that he can make an impact. Honorable mentions go to Kai Havertz and Joshua Kimmich, who will hopefully be returned to his deserving spot in the midfield.
Chuck Smith
Biggest new addition: Karim Adeyemi
After missing on the World Cup, Adeyemi is off to a good start with FC Barcelona and could even find his way into the starting XI given Germany’s current dearth of capable wingers. Working under Hansi Flick, Adeyemi has three goals and one assist in six games across competitions so far this season.
Biggest omission: Nick Woltemade
The big man has had his chances, but has not taken advantage of them. At some point, everyone will have to stop waiting and move on. Is this the time? It could be. As of now, it seems like Woltemade is just another German who made the jump to England far too early in his career.
Key player: Joshua Kimmich
Kimmich needs to be back in the central midfield and with his role as captain, the bond must begin to form between the player and the coach. Kimmich’s ability to build relationship with both coaches and players bodes well for him, but — as evidenced by his time under Thomas Tuchel — it does not always work out. How the twosome begins to forge their relationship could be a key aspect to how the team evolves into a much better version of what fans witnessed at the World Cup.
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