Klopp Opens Germany Tenure With Nations League Opener Against Netherlands

Jürgen Klopp takes charge of his first Germany matches this international break, beginning with a UEFA Nations League trip to face the Netherlands in Amsterdam.

Jürgen Klopp has begun work as Germany's national team manager ahead of his first matches in charge, a four-game UEFA Nations League stretch that opens against the Netherlands in Amsterdam. Klopp was appointed at the end of July to succeed Julian Nagelsmann.

The new manager named a 44-man squad for the window and split the group into two separate squads for the matches against the Netherlands, Greece twice, and Serbia. The approach reflects his stated intention to evaluate as many players as possible early in his tenure.

There have been minor adjustments to the group. Bayern Munich's Lennart Karl and Barcelona's Karim Adeyemi swapped places between the two squads, while RB Leipzig's Brajan Gruda withdrew through injury.

In a video message to supporters, Klopp introduced himself as "the new one," echoing the "the normal one" description he used when he joined Liverpool in 2015. He thanked fans around the world for their support and said he was looking forward to seeing them in the stadiums.

After facing the Netherlands, Germany host Greece in Augsburg, play Serbia at Munich's Allianz Arena, and close the window with a second meeting against Greece in Thessaloniki. The run of fixtures follows a disappointing World Cup showing for Germany this past summer.