Jürgen Klopp has used his first international window as Germany’s head coach to shake up the national team. A total of 44 players have had the opportunity to showcase their skills to the new DFB coach over the past two weeks.
After four Nations League matches, the results have been mixed. A 1-1 draw against the Netherlands and a 0-1 loss to Greece were followed by a convincing 2-0 win over Serbia with a nearly completely revamped roster. Finally, Germany could not manage more than a 0-0 draw against Greece in Thessaloniki.
In November, the pool will shrink significantly. Klopp plans to name only 23 or 24 players to the squad. For the numerous Bayern Munich pros in particular, this marks the start of the battle for spots. Some have significantly improved their standing, while for others, the competition has intensified.
Bischof, Pavlovic, and Urbig are among the winners
The biggest winner from Bayern is likely Tom Bischof. The 21-year-old was in the starting lineup against both Serbia and Greece and impressed in both matches.
Bischof made a particularly strong impression in the 2-0 win over Serbia. With his strong work rate, aggressive defending, and bold playmaking, he showcased exactly the qualities Klopp demands from his midfielders. Bischof capped off his performance with the goal that made it 1-0, which also marked his first goal for the senior national team.
He also reaffirmed his positive impression in the 0-0 draw in Thessaloniki. Going into the international break, Bischof’s main goal was to make a case for further call-ups. After his two appearances, he has emerged as a serious option for central midfield.
The same applies to Aleksandar Pavlovic. The Bayern Munich pro took on a lot of responsibility in the second DFB squad and impressed as the playmaker in front of the defense. Especially in combination with Bischof, the midfield worked exceptionally well against Serbia.
Pavlovic’s playing style fits Klopp’s 4-3-3 system perfectly: he keeps possession under pressure, can build plays from deep, and simultaneously provides the necessary cover behind more attacking midfielders. He was also among the stronger German players in the draw against Greece.
The third big winner is Jonas Urbig. The 23-year-old made his DFB debut against Serbia and kept a clean sheet in the 2-0 victory. Klopp then put his trust in him again in Greece.
There, Urbig was put to a much tougher test and was immediately on the ball. Right from the start, he prevented an early deficit with a strong save against Giorgos Masouras. In the end, he kept a clean sheet in his second international match as well. The goalkeeper question is by no means settled, but Urbig has significantly improved his standing.
Kimmich Faces New Competition – Musiala Endures a Bitter Learning Experience
Assessing Joshua Kimmich is more complicated. The captain remains a key player, and Klopp has made it clear on several occasions that he continues to count on him. Nevertheless, the Bayern star’s situation has changed.
Kimmich was part of the starting lineup that could not manage more than a 1-1 draw against the Netherlands and subsequently lost 0-1 to Greece. Especially after the weak second performance, the 31-year-old himself criticized the lack of movement and creativity in Germany’s play.
After that, of all things, a midfield featuring his Bayern teammates Pavlovic and Bischof put in a convincing performance against Serbia. This by no means means that Kimmich has lost his starting spot. However, Klopp now has additional options at his disposal that fit well with his style of play.
This raises a question that is likely to become particularly interesting in the coming months: Will Kimmich remain permanently in central midfield, or does Klopp see his captain returning to right back in the long run?
The international break was even more bitter for Jamal Musiala. The 23-year-old was unable to make any kind of case for himself on the field. Klopp wanted to start him against the Netherlands, but during warm-ups, the Bayern star suffered a torn muscle fiber.
For Musiala, his first training camp under Klopp ended before it had even really begun. Instead of making a case for himself with the new national team coach, the attacking player must now cope with yet another injury layoff and subsequently fight his way back into the lineup at FC Bayern.
From Munich’s perspective, Klopp’s XXL tryout has shown one thing above all: competition within the DFB squad is heating up. Bischof, Pavlovic, and Urbig, in particular, have seized their opportunities—and could play an important role again as early as November.