Jurgen Klopp takes charge of Germany for the first time against the Netherlands on Thursday, but the former Liverpool boss has not included Florian Wirtz in his first game
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 29: Florian Wirtz #17 of Germany looks on during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between Germany and Paraguay at Boston Stadium on June 29, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Florian Wirtz is not in Jurgen Klopp's first Germany squad(Image: Getty Images)
Jurgen Klopp begins a new era in his career as he takes charge of Germany for the first time - although there is a notable absentee in the shape of Florian Wirtz for his first game.
Klopp leads his country for the first time as the four-time world champions take on the Netherlands in a Nations League encounter in Amsterdam. The legendary Liverpool boss was appointed during the summer after Julian Nagelsmann was fired following Germany’s poor showing at the World Cup, in which it crashed out at the last-32 stage against Paraguay.
The 59-year-old’s first task sees him come up against plenty of familiar faces, with Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo all starting for the Netherlands, having all played under Klopp at Anfield.
There was no Wirtz though in Klopp’s first line-up, and the Liverpool star won’t get the chance to play for his new national team manager until at least next month.
With the first international break of the season having been extended, Klopp took the unusual step of naming a 44-man squad for Germany’s four Nations League fixtures, with the group effectively split into two.
Therefore, after games against the Netherlands and Greece (September 27) Wirtz will join up with the squad for the final two games of the break against Serbia (October 1) and Greece again (October 4).
Germany's National coach Jurgen Klopp gestures as he addresses a press conference to announce his squad, on September 17, 2026 at the headquarters of DFB (German Football Federation) in Frankfurt, western Germany, ahead of the Nations league football matches. (Photo by Hannes P. Albert / AFP via Getty Images)
Jurgen Klopp has not selected Florian Wirtz for his first game as Germany manager(Image: Getty Images)
Although Wirtz is not in Klopp’s first side as Germany manager, the Reds’ former boss has jumped to the defense of the 23-year-old amid the ongoing criticism of his performances at Anfield.
"The communication has been very pleasant," Klopp said last week. "We keep in touch from time to time.
"I think he's the player who covered the most ground at Liverpool this season, so the willingness is absolutely there.
"We have to move away from the idea that we need to see special moments from him. He is there to help us as a team. We have to make sure that Flo feels comfortable with us.
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"When the team works, then every player shines as a consequence. You have to be satisfied with a game in which Flo Wirtz gave everything but didn't have a goal or assist.
"We simply have to give the boy the feeling: 'That was more than good enough today. You helped us as a team. We won 1-0 or 2-0'.
"And then all the experts sit there and discuss why it still didn't work out for him. There are just as many reasons to say: 'He is performing perfectly fine.' Now we'll take the next steps together. That applies for Flo and all the others."