Jürgen Klopp’s first Germany squad contains plenty of familiar names, but the most interesting aspect of the 44-man selection is the number of players who have suddenly moved into the senior-team picture. With 16 potential debutants, Klopp has clearly used the expanded UEFA Nations League setup to look well beyond Germany’s established core.
Mika Baur is one of the more unexpected selections. The 22-year-old midfielder only moved from SC Paderborn to Celtic before the season, yet that was enough for Klopp to bring him into the senior setup. Baur is not coming from one of Germany’s traditional Bundesliga powerhouses, making his inclusion an especially interesting indication of how broadly Klopp is scouting. The Celtic move has given him an opportunity to play in a different environment, and Klopp has evidently seen enough to want a closer look.
Hennes Behrens may be an even bigger surprise. The FC Augsburg defender receives his first senior Germany call-up after establishing himself at club level, and his selection gives Augsburg two representatives in the squad alongside goalkeeper Finn Dahmen. The DFB specifically identifies Behrens as receiving his first senior call-up.
Felix Keidel is another fascinating selection. The SV Elversberg midfielder has made the jump from the second tier into Klopp’s Germany setup, and his inclusion is particularly notable because he is not simply being brought in as an established Bundesliga player. Klopp appears interested in seeing whether Keidel’s performances can translate to the international level.
Philipp Treu also deserves significant attention. The SC Freiburg defender is a first-time senior selection, and his inclusion appears to have a tactical purpose beyond simply rewarding a good season. Klopp specifically explained that Treu and Keidel’s inclusion can help allow Joshua Kimmich to return to central midfield, his preferred position. That makes Treu particularly intriguing because his selection potentially affects the structure of the entire team rather than simply adding another player to the squad.
SC Freiburg’s Yannik Engelhardt, Max Rosenfelder, and Derry Scherhant, Hoffenheim’s Bambasé Conté, Brentford’s Vitaly Janelt, and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Younes Ebnoutalib round out a remarkable group of new faces. All are receiving their first senior call-ups, according to the DFB. Ebnoutalib is particularly interesting because the forward has moved into the Germany picture after emerging at Eintracht Frankfurt, while Freiburg’s representation extends well beyond established names such as Christian Günter in previous eras.
The common thread is clear — Klopp is using his first window to expand Germany’s player pool rather than simply inherit the previous hierarchy. Klopp said himself that the coaching staff sees considerable talent and wants to identify players who could play important roles for Germany in the coming years.
Now, Klopp will have a chance to help make that happen.
