How could Germany line up under Jürgen Klopp?
It has now been confirmed that Jürgen Klopp will lead Germany into a new era after succeeding Julian Nagelsmann as head coach. So how might the former Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund and Mainz boss shape his new team, building towards the next major tournament with UEFA Euro 2028?
Germany have reached just one semi-final at a FIFA World Cup or Euros since lifting the 2014 World Cup, leaving Klopp with the task of restoring the country's place among football's elite
He will have to do so without Manuel Neuer, who hung up his gloves for a second time after being recalled for this summer’s World Cup in North America. The Bayern Munich stalwart is a goalkeeping legend, and attention will now turn to finding a shot-stopper worthy of replacing him.
While Marc-André ter Stegen and Oliver Baumann may be in the frame, Klopp could call upon Neuer’s apparent successor at club level, Jonas Urbig, to do the same job for Germany.
The 22-year-old represents the long-term future and has already impressed when called upon for the Bavarians.
With Neuer’s contract at Bayern set to run out at the end of the 2026/27 season, Urbig may well have 12 full months as No.1 ahead of the next Euros to further prove himself.
The right-back position could see a significant change, too. Under Nagelsmann, captain Joshua Kimmich was used exclusively on the right of the back four, despite controlling the midfield for Bayern at club level.
He will be 33 by the summer of 2028, but still clearly has the ability to patrol the middle of the park, while Ridle Baku could become an important part of the team.
At Liverpool, Klopp’s setup relied on attacking full-backs and, while Baku – who has eight caps - might not possess the same playmaking abilities as Trent Alexander-Arnold, he has been a regular provider of goal contributions for RB Leipzig, Wolfsburg and Mainz during his Bundesliga career. He would also offer balance to the team with Nathaniel Brown on the opposite flank.
Bayern’s summer arrival from Eintracht Frankfurt was one of Germany's bright sparks in the Canada, Mexico and the USA, finding the back of the net against Curaçao, and is set to make the left-back position his own, even if the likes of David Raum will be keen to keep him on his toes.
Watch: Bayern sign Brown & Saibari
Meanwhile, at the heart of the back four, Jonathan Tah and Nico Schlotterbeck should both still be first choice.
The former has emerged as a leader at both the club and international levels, and although he missed a crucial penalty in the shootout defeat to Paraguay in June, his bravery in stepping up says a lot about his character.
Germany’s tournament may have looked different had Schlotterbeck not suffered a competition-ending injury against Côte d'Ivoire in the group stage. The Dortmund man continues to struggle intermittently with fitness issues, but when fit, he is a complete centre-back who is comfortable both defending and starting play from the back.
Watch: Pass-master Schlotterbeck
Alongside Kimmich in the middle of the park should be Aleksandar Pavlović. Having already cemented himself as the former’s midfield partner in crime for Bayern, the two are well placed to provide a cohesive base, drawing inspiration from other winning international sides that have built their teams around midfielders who play for the same club.
The attacking positions could well see an overhaul, too. At Liverpool, Klopp mainly deployed a 4-3-3 formation, but the talent at his disposal when selecting his Germany team could see him revert to the 4-2-3-1 style that brought him success at Dortmund.
Aged just 23, Jamal Musiala still has plenty of years ahead of him and, given how he shone at Euro 2024, he clearly has what it takes to be his team’s creative force in attacking midfield once again, forming one of the most exciting attacking prospects alongside Florian Wirtz. It is on the wings where new stars appear primed to break through.
Watch: Best of Musiala
Saïd El Mala can arguably count himself unlucky not to have been part of Nagelsmann’s 26-man squad for this World Cup after 13 goals for Cologne in his maiden Bundesliga season. Still a teenager, his future looks incredibly bright, and he can provide the direct running and goal threat that Klopp’s wide men often have.
Lennart Karl would already have been part of this latest World Cup journey had an injury not forced him to return home from the pre-tournament camp.
Like El Mala, he burst onto the scene in 2025/26 and, with more experience under his belt over the next two years, he could be a key weapon moving forward.
Watch: Karl lighting up the game
Although Klopp had Robert Lewandowski at Dortmund, his best Liverpool teams were built on centre-forwards who, while not prolific in front of goal, brought others in to play.
Kai Havertz fits that bill perfectly, and is also capable of putting the ball in the back of the net, meaning he could benefit from the new boss’ footballing philosophy.
There are, of course, honourable mentions such as Felix Nmecha and Angelo Stiller, both of whom have plenty to offer on the international stage going forward, while we could see other unknown names break through over the next two seasons.
This XI, though, has the potential to blossom into a team that could put Germany back at the top table after some difficult years. Over to you, Jürgen!
