It wasn't quite the perfect start to life in charge of Germany for Jurgen Klopp, but even with Florian Wirtz missing, the former Liverpool boss gave his old club plenty of hope
Jurgen Klopp celebrates during his first game as Germany head coach
Jurgen Klopp celebrates during his first game as Germany head coach(Image: Getty Images)
Well, Jurgen Klopp’s first game in charge of Germany certainly did not disappoint.
A 1-1 draw in Amsterdam barely even tells half the story of what was an enthralling contest, with the former Liverpool boss’ fingerprints all over the game. Mere seconds away from claiming a first win in his first managerial job in over two years, it just had to be one of Klopp’s former Liverpool stars who would snatch it away from him.
Cody Gakpo’s brilliant volley was probably the least the Netherlands deserved, and there’s no doubt the visitors rode their luck - we’ve almost certainly not heard the last of Lukas Nmecha’s controversial opener.
But, considering the position in which Klopp took over for his nation, this still felt like a step in the right direction.
As galvanizing as a win in your biggest rival’s backyard would have been, a draw away from home in your first game in charge is not to be sniffed at either.
After all, that is how he began his reign at Liverpool, and there was arguably more encouragement for Germany in Amsterdam than there was for the Reds at Tottenham back in 2015.
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 was not in Jurgen Klopp's first Germany squad(Image: Getty Images)
Florian Wirtz will likely have been watching on with some interest, with the 23-year-old not due to link up with his national side until the second half of the international break, and from what he and anyone else tuning in saw, there is plenty to look forward to.
As Jamie Carragher pointed out at the weekend, Liverpool fans are pinning a lot of hope on their former manager to get Wirtz firing.
It’s been a tough 12 months for the former Bayer Leverkusen star, and his position in the Reds’ side looks under more doubt now than it has done at any other stage since he made the move to Merseyside last year.
Liverpool fans are desperate for Klopp to get the best out of Wirtz
Liverpool fans are desperate for Klopp to get the best out of Wirtz(Image: Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola’s arrival as head coach hasn’t yet had the desired effect on him, but it is still very early days in the Spaniard’s reign. In Klopp, though, he has perhaps the perfect foil to extract more from Wirtz.
Liverpool fans saw that ability from their former manager in spades while he was at Anfield, and there was evidence on Thursday that he hasn’t lost the knack.
The game against the Netherlands was perhaps more chaotic than he would have liked, and it did maybe resemble one of his earlier games in charge of Liverpool as opposed to one of his later ones.
At this stage, though, maybe that is what Wirtz needs. There was no shortage of chances for Germany, and if the games against Serbia and Greece next month are anything like what we’ve just seen, Wirtz will have a big part to play.
Some might be losing faith in Wirtz’s ability to turn things around at Liverpool, but if anyone is going to improve his fortunes, it’s Klopp as he begins to weave his magic once again.