Jürgen Klopp is still very much in the discovery phase of his tenure as Germany head coach, and that means there is likely to be more emphasis on evaluating players, experimenting with different combinations, and identifying the next generation of talent than on chasing immediate results. While expectations will inevitably rise as the 2026 World Cup approaches, Klopp still has plenty of work to do before he knows exactly what his best Germany team looks like.
His initial approach has made that fairly
clear. Klopp has cast a relatively wide net with his selections, bringing several younger players into the setup and giving himself opportunities to assess players who might not necessarily have been considered automatic candidates under previous regimes. That includes Bayern Munich prospects such as Lennart Karl and Wael Mohya, whose involvement reflects a willingness to look beyond the established senior core. While Mohya will not suit up vs. Serbia, his participation in the camp could end up swaying him to choose Germany over Morocco.
There is also a tactical element to this process. Klopp is still learning which players best fit his preferred approach, who can adapt to his demands, and which partnerships might eventually form the foundation of his team. That cannot be established simply by looking at club performances or reputations. He needs to see these players in training, understand their personalities, and evaluate how they respond to the demands of international football.
Consequently, Germany supporters should probably resist judging Klopp too harshly on every result during this early stage. That does not mean winning is unimportant, particularly with major tournaments approaching, but there is a bigger picture to consider. A few disappointing results now might ultimately be worthwhile if they help Klopp identify players who can make a meaningful difference next summer.
At the same time, the discovery phase cannot last forever. Klopp will eventually need to narrow his options, establish a preferred starting XI, and develop the consistency that Germany has sometimes lacked. The November international window is another opportunity to move toward that objective, but it should not necessarily be viewed as a definitive examination of his progress.
For now, Klopp appears more interested in discovering what he has available than simply collecting results. Germany needs a clear identity and a reliable core, and finding those things should remain his priority, even if it occasionally comes at the expense of short-term results.
If things move ahead of schedule, then great, but it might not move as quickly as many would like.
Song of the Week: “Supernova” by Liz Phair
In the early-to-mid ’90s, when alternative rock was really getting a bigger platform, it opened the door for more women in the genre to break through.
One who took full advantage of that was Liz Phair, who really got a lot of attention for the song below, “Supernova.”
Released in 1994 on the album Whip-Smart, Phair had quite a moment on the alternative rock scene. As far as we can tell, Phair is still around and working, but not touring at this point. Enjoy:
Entertainment Rundown
For a lot of people, the final season of Stranger Things (particularly the series finale) ruined a once-great show.
Not for me, but the sentiment is one that seems to be overpowering on social media. The biggest gripe this writer had with Stranger Things is that it simply aged out the actors because it took so long to film. At the beginning of the saga, there was a true “’80s kid hero” element to it, but by the end, it did feel as if adults were trying to play kids on screen.
That alone turned some folks off, and yes, there were some questionable writing and plot decisions that did not totally hit with everyone.
That said, it will still go down as an all-time prestige television series and a cultural phenomenon. As such, it will get its own universe of sorts with a recently announced prequel series:
Variety offered a little more background on what the prequel will entail:
The “Stranger Things” prequel
series is titled “Other Worlds” and has been ordered to series at Netflix for a 2028 release.The prequel takes place in 1955 in Marion, Nevada before the events of “Stranger Things” and “Stranger Things: The First Shadow.”
The Duffer Brothers previously told Variety the spinoff would focus on events prior to Henry Creel being exposed to the otherworldly substance that gave him his powers in “Stranger Things.”
“Other Worlds” is co-created by the Duffer Brothers and “First Shadow” writer Kate Trefry, who will also serve as showrunner. Joe Wright will direct the first three episodes
There seems to be a logical timeline and what looks to be a true origin story. How it all comes together and whether it will capture the same magic remains to be seen. Will you be tuning in?
Predictions
UEFA Nations League
Thursday, November 12, 2026
- Armenia 1-1 Cyprus (W)***
- Türkiye 1-2 Belgium (W)***
- Albania 1-1 Finland (L)
- Czechia 0-3 Spain (W)
- England 3-1 Croatia (W)
- Italy 1-3 France (L)
- Montenegro 2-0 Latvia (W)
- San Marino 0-1 Belarus (W)
Thursday record: 6-2, 2PP
Friday, November 13, 2026
Author’s Note: This is a nightmare day for picks.
- Moldova 1-1 Kazakhstan
- Andorra 1-0 Gibraltar
- Bulgaria 0-1 Iceland
- Liechtenstein 0-2 Azerbaijan
- Luxembourg 1-1 Estonia
- Netherlands 2-1 Greece
- Scotland 2-1 North Macedonia
- Serbia 0-3 Germany
- Slovakia 2-0 Faroe Islands
- Slovenia 0-1 Switzerland
Saturday, November 14, 2026
- Kosovo 1-0 Israel
- Georgia 1-2 Hungary
- Norway 2-0 Wales
- Austria 2-1 Republic of Ireland
- Northern Ireland 1-1 Ukraine
- Portugal 2-0 Denmark
- Romania 0-1 Poland
- Sweden 2-1 Bosnia-Herzegovina
Sunday, November 15, 2026
- Cyprus 2-2 Montenegro
- Latvia 0-2 Armenia
- Belarus 0-2 Albania
- Finland 2-0 San Marino
- Belgium 1-1 Italy
- Croatia 2-1 Czechia
- France 3-0 Türkiye
- Spain 1-0 England
Monday, November 16, 2026
- Faroe Islands 1-1 Moldova
- Kazakhstan 1-2 Slovakia
- Estonia 1-1 Bulgaria
- Iceland 2-1 Luxembourg
- Lithuania 1-0 Liechtenstein
- Germany 2-1 Netherlands
- Gibraltar 1-1 Malta
- Greece 1-1 Serbia
- North Macedonia 0-2 Slovenia
- Switzerland 2-0 Scotland
Tuesday, November 17, 2026
- Bosnia-Herzegovina 1-0 Romania
- Denmark 0-1 Norway
- Hungary 1-1 Northern Ireland
- Israel 0-2 Austria
- Poland 0-1 Sweden
- Republic of Ireland 1-0 Kosovo
- Ukraine 1-0 Georgia
- Wales 0-2 Portugal
Prediction Records
- Total: 307-184
- Perfect Picks: 40
- Bundesliga Last Matchday: 6-3
- Bundesliga Overall: 38-43
- DFB-Pokal: 40-8
- World Cup: 71-28
- International Friendlies: 50-30
- UEFA Nations League: 58-46 (Thursday results not included. Will add the final tally after the break.)
- Champions League: 44-28
- Club Friendlies: 5-1
- Franz Beckenbauer Supercup: 1-0
