Klopp names 44-man Germany squad and calls on nation to reclaim the flag

Jürgen Klopp launched his tenure as Germany head coach on Thursday by naming an unusually large 44-player double squad for the upcoming Nations League games against the Netherlands, Greece and Serbia — and by urging the country to embrace a more open form of national pride.

Sixteen of the players called up have never represented Germany at senior level, with Klopp using the expanded roster to turn the three fixtures into a wide-open audition for places ahead of Euro 2028. The only formal squad restriction in the Nations League group phase is that teams must submit a 23-man list before midnight ahead of each match, with the freedom to rotate players between games.

“I’d like to reclaim the flag for me, or for us, to be totally honest,” Klopp said at his unveiling, wearing a cap in German black, red and gold bearing the slogan ‘One of 83 million’. “I’d like it if, when you’re waving it, no one thinks there’s something wrong with you, but that they just feel you’re happy and you understand you’re lucky to be born in this wonderful country.”

Klopp used the phrase “positive patriotism” and said he did not want to “leave national pride to the wrong people” — remarks that arrive as Germany processes the far-right Alternative for Germany party’s recent election victory in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt.

On the pitch, the selections reflect a deliberate reset after Germany’s latest World Cup exit. Established stars Florian Wirtz and Kai Havertz are expected to feature in no more than two of the three matches as Klopp manages their club workloads and creates space for new faces. Forward Karim Adeyemi returns to the squad for the first time in 11 months following an encouraging start at Barcelona, while Ajax goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen steps into the number-one role following Manuel Neuer’s international retirement.

Among the less-heralded call-ups are Elversberg midfielder Felix Keidel and Eintracht Frankfurt forward Younes Ebnoutalib, both of whom have limited top-division experience. Celtic’s Mika Baur, Brentford’s Vitaly Janelt and Cologne youngster Said El Mala are also included as Klopp casts a wide net.

The appointment itself has been anything but conventional. Klopp made headlines before his first squad announcement by warning he would consider resigning if media scrutiny became too intrusive — a statement that underlined his intention to operate on his own terms as he attempts to reconnect a disillusioned German public with its national team.