Things are getting serious for Jürgen Klopp. On Thursday, the new German national team coach will face his first Nations League match of his tenure. Right off the bat, he’s in for a real litmus test: At 8:45 p.m., the German national team will face the Netherlands on the road.
Klopp is approaching the current international break with an unusual strategy. The 59-year-old has named an XXL squad and divided it into two groups. Some players will be available for the first two matches, while others will join the team for the second half of the campaign.
Jamal Musiala and Serge Gnabry, on the other hand, are set to remain with the DFB for the entire period to gain match practice and get back into the rhythm of the game following their injury layoffs. Tom Bischof will initially play for the German U21 team and then join Klopp’s squad. Aleksandar Pavlovic and Lennart Karl are also scheduled to join for the latter part of the camp.
Matthäus sees four Bayern pros in the starting lineup
There is now great anticipation surrounding which team Klopp will field for his debut against the Netherlands. Lothar Matthäus would opt for a clear Bayern-led lineup.
“In defense, I see Jonathan Tah and Nico Schlotterbeck as locks,” the record-holding national team player told Sky.
On the left side of the defense, Matthäus would also put his trust in a Munich player. Nathaniel Brown has quickly made a name for himself since his move to FC Bayern and, according to the TV analyst, should start against the Oranje.
Matthäus also has a clear vision for Joshua Kimmich. Under Klopp, the Bayern captain should no longer be deployed as a right back but should return to a permanent role in the center of defense.
“Kimmich will move back into the center under Klopp. He and Felix Nmecha would have been my double-six pairing even at the World Cup,” said Matthäus.
Musiala should play directly in the number 10 position
That would mean Tah, Brown, and Kimmich—three Bayern pros—would already be in Matthäus’s ideal lineup. Add Jamal Musiala to that.
In the opinion of the 1990 World Cup champion, the 23-year-old should start directly in the number 10 position. Playing time could be particularly valuable for Musiala. After his extended break, the attacking star is currently working his way back to top form step by step.
His form with FC Bayern has shown a clear upward trend recently. Against Bodø/Glimt and Union Berlin, Musiala scored the crucial 1-0 goal in both matches. In the 7-0 win over Berlin, he also played the full 90 minutes for the first time and set up another goal.
Matthäus would therefore advise Klopp to field a starting lineup featuring as many as four Bayern players for his debut. Whether the new national team coach will actually rely on this Munich-based core will become clear on Thursday evening in Amsterdam.