Jürgen Klopp is kicking off his tenure as Germany’s national team coach with an XXL roster. This presents very different opportunities for the Bayern stars.
As he takes the helm as Germany’s national team coach, Jürgen Klopp is making it clear that he does not want to rely on old hierarchies. The 59-year-old has called up a total of 44 players for the unusually long international break and divided them into two groups. Among them are nine professionals from FC Bayern.
For the Munich players, the deck is being reshuffled. While established national team players can solidify their positions, the younger generation at Bayern in particular has the opportunity to gain prominence under Klopp.
Joshua Kimmich starts from a strong position. Klopp is sticking with the 31-year-old as captain and has simultaneously put an end to the debate over his position. After Kimmich had to fill in as a right back during the World Cup, he is now set to organize the DFB’s midfield once again.
“We see him as a midfielder,” Klopp clarified. “We didn’t have a single conversation in which we discussed him as a right back.”
This means Kimmich will take on the same role with the DFB that he plays for FC Bayern under Vincent Kompany. At the same time, the captain is expected to lead the way in establishing a new hierarchy.
Musiala could immediately become the X-factor
For Jamal Musiala, too, this fresh start could come at just the right time. The 23-year-old has fought his way back at FC Bayern following his health issues. In the 7-0 win over Union Berlin, he played the full 90 minutes for the first time since his return, scored a goal himself, and set up a goal for Michael Olise.
According to Sky, Musiala now even feels ready to start against the Netherlands. This means Klopp could call on one of his most exceptional offensive players sooner than expected.
Serge Gnabry is also getting another chance. The 31-year-old has just made his Bayern comeback after a long injury layoff. Klopp wants to help him get back into a rhythm during the training camp. This gives Gnabry the opportunity to immediately re-establish himself as a serious option for the DFB.
The situation is somewhat different for Jonathan Tah. The 30-year-old is a regular starter at FC Bayern and is also entering the Klopp era with the DFB in a strong position. Lothar Matthäus told Sky: “In defense, I see Jonathan Tah and Nico Schlotterbeck as locks.”
Still, it’s unlikely to be a foregone conclusion. Waldemar Anton, in particular, is in strong form at Borussia Dortmund. There are also younger candidates like Finn Jeltsch. Tah can solidify his status, but he’ll have to defend it against new competition.
Nathaniel Brown, on the other hand, could benefit from a fresh start. The 23-year-old is an option at left back. Klopp’s exchange with Kompany showed that he’s keeping an eye on him. Referring to Brown’s temporary role as a number 10, Klopp joked: “Now we finally have a German left back again—and then you put him at the number 10 spot.”
What role will Karl play?
At FC Bayern, Alphonso Davies has once again overtaken Brown. With the DFB, however, the summer signing has the opportunity to establish himself in the new hierarchy.
Under Klopp, Aleksandar Pavlovic can prove himself as a long-term solution in central midfield. The 22-year-old has long been a key player at FC Bayern and could now also secure a permanent spot alongside Kimmich on the German national team.
Tom Bischof has a special plan in store. The 21-year-old will initially remain captain of the U21 team before joining the senior national team. Bischof already has one international cap and could now establish himself permanently in the DFB squad. His timing is perfect: In the 7-0 win over Union, he made a big impression with two assists after coming off the bench.
The training camp will be particularly exciting for Lennart Karl. The 18-year-old was called up by Klopp directly to his first XXL squad. In the meantime, his participation has been moved to the second group for workload management reasons.
That doesn’t change Klopp’s high regard for him. “When I saw Lennart play live for the first time and shook his hand, I realized: This kid is ready. He’s a real powerhouse and very self-assured, with a very pleasant demeanor. He’s also a bit cheeky, which I like too. He had some outstanding moments before his injury. It was a really bad time for that injury.”
Jonas Urbig is another one of the young Bayern players Klopp wants to get to know. The 23-year-old goalkeeper will join the team during the second half of the international break, giving him an early opportunity to position himself for the future.
Under Klopp, Kimmich will regain his preferred position, Musiala could immediately become a game-changer on offense, and Gnabry will gain valuable playing time. Tah, on the other hand, faces new competition. For Pavlovic, Brown, Bischof, Karl, and Urbig, the main goal is to take advantage of the new opportunities within the DFB squad.