Jürgen Klopp could be preparing to take a very different approach to his first major international squad as Germany head coach per Sky Germany journalists Kerry Hau, Patrick Berger, and Florian Plettenberg (via @iMiaSanMia).
Klopp and his assistants are seriously considering naming a significantly expanded squad for the upcoming four Nations League matches, according to reports. The idea is straightforward — with two weeks together, the Germany coaching staff would have an opportunity to work with as many players
as possible before making decisions about the group that will ultimately represent the country in the biggest matches.
Sky Germany reported a list of players under consideration for the pool, which we covered here.
The exact size of the squad has not yet been finalized, and there is also uncertainty over whether Klopp could make significant changes after the second match. One possibility being considered is essentially splitting the international break into two groups, with one collection of players handling the first two matches and another group being brought in for the final two.
That would give Klopp an unusually broad window into the talent available to him.
The German national team has no shortage of players competing for places. The expanded pool includes established stars such as Joshua Kimmich, Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz, Kai Havertz, and Serge Gnabry, but there are also plenty of younger players who could benefit from being brought into the environment.
Bayern Munich is particularly well represented in that group, with players such as Jonas Urbig, Jonathan Tah, Aleksandar Pavlović, Tom Bischof, Jamal Musiala, and Lennart Karl among those who could be considered. Elsewhere, players such as Finn Jeltsch, Said El Mala, Brajan Gruda, and Nicolai Remberg could give Klopp a closer look at some of Germany’s emerging talent.
There is also plenty of competition at positions where Germany has been searching for consistency. The goalkeeper situation remains worth monitoring, while the full-back positions offer Klopp several different profiles. The center-back pool should give the new coach plenty of combinations to consider.
Technically, Klopp is permitted to bring as many players as he wants into camp, although he must submit a matchday squad of 23 players, including three goalkeepers, before each game. That flexibility could make this international break particularly valuable. Rather than immediately settling on a narrow group, Klopp appears interested in using the available time to gather information.
The final squad will be announced Thursday. That announcement should provide the first real indication of just how wide Klopp intends to cast his net as he begins shaping the next version of the German national team.
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