Klopp calls up Wirtz ahead of schedule after Musiala and Havertz injuries hit Germany

Jurgen Klopp has been compelled to accelerate Florian Wirtz’s involvement with Germany after Jamal Musiala and Kai Havertz suffered injuries during the 1-1 draw with the Netherlands — the new national team manager’s first game in charge.

Klopp, appointed as Julian Nagelsmann’s successor, took the unusual step of naming two separate squads for the four-game international window. Wirtz had been placed in the second group, scheduled to feature against Serbia and the return fixture in Greece. Musiala and Havertz’s fitness issues changed that plan, with Wirtz and Frankfurt striker Jonathan Burkardt now called into the squad for the remaining three matches, beginning with Greece on Sunday.

Klopp was quick to stress that his split-squad approach carried no hierarchy. “I want to get to know as many players as possible,” he said. “There is no A or B team. The squads are put together in a way that makes sense on the pitch and in terms of character and experience.”

For Wirtz, the early call-up arrives at a moment when he is still finding his feet at Liverpool following his high-profile move. In six appearances under Andoni Iraola this season, the Germany international has managed just one assist. Iraola, however, has pushed back against any suggestion that the numbers tell the full story.

“He is a good player out of possession who helps us in our press,” Iraola said. “But he runs the same as the 10 of Arsenal, the 10 of City, the 10 of Fulham — and more or less his stats are very similar to the number 10s other teams have. Whether a striker scores a lot of goals or he doesn’t score a lot of goals, you have to look at the performances. Does he help us to play well? Yes.”

Klopp’s Germany debut ended in a draw after Cody Gakpo — the Liverpool forward facing his former manager for the first time — levelled for the Netherlands in the 92nd minute. The result means Klopp will be looking to Wirtz and the freshly assembled group to provide a sharper edge when Germany face Greece.