Archive · 17 Sep 2026
Klopp Names 44 Players for Germany Nations League Audition
Germany’s coach, Jürgen Klopp, chose 44 players for four upcoming soccer games.
He put the players into two different squads for September and October matches.
Germany will play the Netherlands, Greece and Serbia.
Klopp wants to see which players deserve places on the team for the 2028 European Championship.
Some selected players have never played for Germany’s senior team before.
Other famous players may only play in two games so they do not become too tired.
Deniz Undav, who scored the most goals for Germany at the World Cup, was not selected.
Leroy Sané was also left out.
Jürgen Klopp selected 44 players across two Germany squads for four UEFA Nations League matches.
The games against the Netherlands, Greece and Serbia will be used to evaluate players ahead of Euro 2028.
Several selections are uncapped or have limited top-division experience, including Felix Keidel and Younes Ebnoutalib.
Florian Wirtz and Kai Havertz may play no more than two matches as Klopp manages workloads.
Deniz Undav, Germany’s World Cup top scorer, and Leroy Sané were omitted from the squads.
- Who
- Jürgen Klopp and Germany’s national team players, including several uncapped players.
- What
- Klopp named 44 players in two squads for four UEFA Nations League matches.
- When
- The matches are scheduled for September 24, September 27, October 1 and October 4; the announcement was made Thursday.
- Where
- Germany will face the Netherlands, Greece and Serbia; the article does not specify venues.
- Why
- Klopp is using the matches as an extended audition for Euro 2028 places while managing player workloads.
Broad Audition
Continuity and Experience
Using a large player pool
Broad Audition
Selecting 44 players gives Klopp opportunities to assess new faces and identify options for the 2028 European Championship.
Continuity and Experience
The extensive rotation could limit playing time for established players and make it harder to build continuity.
Managing star workloads
Broad Audition
Limiting Florian Wirtz and Kai Havertz to a maximum of two matches could reduce their workload across the four fixtures.
Continuity and Experience
Using key players in fewer matches may reduce Germany’s reliance on its most experienced or prominent options.
Leaving out Deniz Undav
Broad Audition
Klopp’s selection indicates that World Cup performance alone does not guarantee a place in the new squad.
Continuity and Experience
Omitting Germany’s World Cup top scorer removes a proven recent source of goals from the team.
- Players selected
- 44 players across two Germany squads
- Competition
- UEFA Nations League
- September matches
- Netherlands on September 24 and Greece on September 27
- October matches
- Serbia on October 1 and Greece on October 4
- Major tournament target
- 2028 European Championship
- Not selected
- Deniz Undav and Leroy Sané
- Squad rule
- Germany must submit 23 players before each match but can change players between games