Jurgen Klopp, the new Germany coach, has defended his surprising decision to announce two separate squads for the team’s four matches during the upcoming international break. He also explained the inclusion of Younes Ben Taleb, the Eintracht Frankfurt forward who previously represented Morocco at youth level and had been repeatedly linked with the Atlas Lions for years. Now, Ben Taleb may finally make his debut for Germany.
Klopp called up the 23-year-old Eintracht Frankfurt attacker, whose impressive start to the season—three goals in three Bundesliga matches—quickly caught the attention of the new national team coach. Klopp has not hidden his admiration for the player.
The Reason Behind Younes Ben Taleb’s Call-Up
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Klopp praised Ben Taleb’s performances in particular. “I watched his first game for Frankfurt and said to myself: what a player! Where did they find him? There was no discussion among the coaching staff—we all agreed immediately: yes, we have to call him up,” Klopp said.
He added: “His intelligence, especially regarding his play in the final attacking third without falling into the offside trap, is exceptional and wonderful. He is a great talent.”
A special squad was named for the matches against the Netherlands (24 September) and Greece (27 September), while a second squad will participate in the games against Serbia (1 October) and Greece (4 October). Goalkeeper Finn Dahmen (Augsburg) is the only player included in both squads.
Why Klopp Announced Two Squads for Germany
Klopp cautioned: “We have not formed a first team or a reserve team. We want to win all four matches.”
He pointed out that the idea is to observe as many players as possible during the upcoming camp. “I opened the door wide and said: everyone who wants to participate has a chance,” he added. The coach had hinted at this during his first press conference in July, stating that he had “a list of more than 60 players.”
Ter Stegen as Number One, Kimmich as New Captain
Some decisions still need to be made in specific cases. Marc-André ter Stegen (34) will be the first-choice goalkeeper after a 15-month absence from the pitch.
However, ter Stegen will need to be cautious regarding Finn Dahmen, the only player called up in both squads, who appears to be a preferred option for Klopp. “He is a very talented goalkeeper, and I would like to see him play for longer,” Klopp said.
The new Germany coach intends to rely on experienced players such as Joshua Kimmich, who will wear the captain’s armband and be considered a midfielder.
Klopp explained: “We never discussed the possibility of him playing as a right-back. He is an experienced player, and he must be a role model. But we need to adapt to a new style of play. We have tactical issues to solve. I am convinced he will show his full potential.”
New Players in the Germany Squad
There are 11 new players called up, and 16 players who have never played for the senior national team. This renewal is important and brings new vitality to the team.
Klopp said: “When I called up Bambasé Conté, he laughed for two minutes. I also surprised Mika Baur, Felix Kaidel, and Henness Behrens.”
Four players from Freiburg were also called up: Philipp Treu, Janik Engelhardt, Max Rosenfelder, and Derry Scherhant.
Klopp explained: “Freiburg have been performing exceptionally for a while. Every team consists of different characters, and everyone contributes. You cannot buy a strong mentality, but you can develop it. The Freiburg players have that mentality.”
Finally, while many players were selected, others were disappointed, including some with a history with the Germany national team. The exclusion of Deniz Undav, a standout substitute at the World Cup, may be surprising. Klopp said: “I spoke with him. He has not regained his form this season yet. I wanted to choose four forwards, and at the moment, I have chosen others.”
He concluded: “Leroy Sané has not regained his form this season yet. I will speak with him, but I have not done so yet. I have not spoken with Leon Goretzka either, but he is injured. I have made more than 50 or 60 phone calls.”