Jurgen Klopp has used his first squad announcement as Germany head coach to address the country’s political climate, saying his team can help ensure that national pride is not entrusted to the wrong people and that he wants to ‘reclaim the flag’ after a recent far-right election victory.
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party won 43.8% of the vote in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, falling just short of an absolute majority in the regional parliament. The anti-immigration party also expects strong results in elections on Sunday in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. No far-right party has controlled a German state since World War Two, when the ruling Nazi party carried out the Holocaust.
Speaking at a news conference to announce his first squad, Klopp stressed that he is not a political ‘expert’. But he said: ‘We had an election where some people may have thought it was OK, while others were saying, my God, what is happening here?’
Klopp added: ‘From my perspective as a sportsman, I can say that I would very much like to reclaim the flag for myself, for all of us. I want it so that when someone waves it, no one thinks: What is wrong with you? Instead, I want people to understand: You are happy and realise how lucky you were to be born, grow up, or move to this wonderful country.’
The former Liverpool manager said he did not want to entrust national pride to the wrong people. He prefers the term ‘positive patriotism’ to ‘national pride’, which he fears can be misunderstood. ‘I can be proud to be German while also being open-minded and diverse, and kind and friendly,’ Klopp said. He also said it was more important that the country had enough doctors and caregivers, but added that football can ‘foster a sense of community, so that people can truly feel the power of sport’.
Klopp’s first squad contains 44 players, including 16 uncapped players, for four Nations League matches over the space of two weeks. A group of 24 players will be available against the Netherlands in Amsterdam on 24 September and at home to Greece in Augsburg three days later. Most of those players will then return to their clubs, while the other 20 will join the group before Germany face Serbia in Munich on 1 October and Greece in Thessaloniki on 4 October.
The first group includes Premier League trio Kai Havertz of Arsenal, Brentford’s Kevin Schade and Anton Stach of Leeds. Jamal Musiala is selected after twice collapsing during pre-season games for Bayern Munich. Brentford’s Vitaly Janelt has received his first call-up as part of the second group, which also includes Florian Wirtz of Liverpool and Malick Thiaw of Newcastle.
Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and defender Antonio Rudiger retired from international duty after Germany’s second-round exit against Paraguay at this summer’s World Cup. That led to the departure of coach Julian Nagelsmann and the subsequent appointment of Klopp, who had been working as global head of soccer for Red Bull.