The start of the Jürgen Klopp era went anything but according to plan for the German national team. The 1-1 draw against the Netherlands was followed by a historic 0-1 loss to Greece. Having earned just one point from their first two Nations League matches, the squad is now being reshuffled in numerous positions as planned.
One of the players now joining the team is Tom Bischof. The Bayern pro initially played for the German U21 team and is heading to the senior national team with plenty of confidence.
In the 4-0 win over Latvia, Bischof was once again one of the standout players for the U21s. Now the 21-year-old has the opportunity to earn further playing time under Klopp.
Kimmich is out—Bischof gets his chance
The situation in Germany’s midfield is changing significantly for the next two games. After his two scheduled appearances, Joshua Kimmich is heading back to Munich. In his place, Bischof and Aleksandar Pavlovic, among others, are joining the DFB squad.
This opens up an interesting opportunity for Bischof. As long as Kimmich is available, the DFB captain is a fixture in central midfield. Without the 31-year-old, Klopp must reshuffle his midfield.
Bischof brings an additional advantage to the table: While the first DFB squad had to deal with disappointing results against the Netherlands and Greece, the Bayern player is joining the national team on the back of a successful performance.
Even when he was first nominated, Klopp had made it clear that Bischof’s stint with the U21s had been coordinated with Bayern coach Vincent Kompany. Now the midfielder is set to spend the second half of the international break with the senior national team.
Bischof fits Klopp’s style of play
On the field as well, the Bayern pro could benefit from Klopp’s approach. Bischof stands out for his clean and quick passing, requires few touches, and regularly seeks forward-thinking solutions.
Added to this are his strengths on set pieces and in defensive situations. Bischof already demonstrated his strengths in counter-pressing during his time at TSG Hoffenheim. Since his move to Munich, he has continued to develop in this area under Kompany.
That is exactly what could benefit him under Klopp. The German national team coach places great emphasis on intensity, aggressive counter-pressing, and quick transitions after winning the ball.
Although Bischof has already made his debut for the German senior national team, he has not yet been able to establish himself there on a permanent basis. The upcoming matches now offer him his next opportunity.
Following a difficult start with the DFB, the deck is being reshuffled in midfield. Bischof arrives with match experience and confidence—and could be one of the players to benefit from the major roster shake-up.