Jürgen Klopp has wasted no time shaking up the way Germany approaches international football. For his first four matches in charge, the new head coach has named 44 players split into two separate squads, an unprecedented setup for the national team.
Two Squads, Two Different Missions
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Squad one takes on the Netherlands in Amsterdam on September 24, then hosts Greece in Augsburg three days later. That group includes names like Kai Havertz, Jamal Musiala, Nico Schlotterbeck, and Serge Gnabry, with captain Joshua Kimmich also included.
Squad two then takes over, facing Serbia in Munich on October 1 before a return meeting with Greece in Thessaloniki on October 4. Florian Wirtz, Nick Woltemade, and Karim Adeyemi headline that second group after an 11-month absence from the squad. Only goalkeeper Finn Dahmen has been named in both squads.
Klopp explained the thinking behind the split himself, saying he wants to see as many players as possible and rejecting the idea that this creates a first-choice and second-choice team. He described the groupings as built around what makes sense on the pitch, in terms of both character and experience.
Praise from Matthäus, and Two Notable Omissions
The move has drawn early support from two prominent figures. Lothar Matthäus, captain of Germany's 1990 World Cup-winning side, called it an outstanding idea, pointing out that playing four matches in 11 days makes splitting the squad a sensible solution while club competitions are also underway. German Football Association vice president Hans-Joachim Watzke echoed that praise, calling the approach an interesting one.
The selection also produced some notable absences. Deniz Undav, Germany's top scorer at the 2026 World Cup, was left out after Klopp said the striker had not yet found his rhythm this season. Leroy Sané (Galatasaray) also misses out, though Klopp left the door open for a future recall once he finds his form this season.
How the experiment plays out on the pitch will become clear soon, with Germany's first test arriving on 24 September in Amsterdam.