Klopp calls up 44 players for Germany, Zidane could follow suit

Jürgen Klopp made a bold statement in his debut as Germany head coach: the former Liverpool manager has called up 44 players for the first UEFA Nations League window, split across two squads each covering two matches.

Among those selected are 13 new internationals, including Félix Keidel, right-back for promoted side Elversberg, who has just three Bundesliga appearances to his name. Klopp’s stated objective is twofold: manage key players in a congested fixture schedule and open the door to a new generation. “I’ve opened the door wide and shown everyone: whoever wants to participate has their chance,” he said. “We’re only just beginning to build the team for the future. This is a first step, but not the last.”

This unprecedented format stems from the new competition structure for the 2026 edition. From the first window, which stretches over three weeks between late September and early October, teams play four matches — compared to two in previous editions.

Zinédine Zidane, who is set to announce his first squad as France head coach on Friday, faces the same logistical challenge. France will travel to Turkey on 25 September, then to Belgium on 28 September, before hosting Italy on 2 October and Belgium again on 5 October. This relentless schedule could prompt Didier Deschamps’ successor to expand his squad as well, following the model of his German counterpart.