The new national team manager is set to make his debut in the Netherlands. Many familiar faces are expected in the line-up.
15 potential debutants – and not a single one in the starting XI? For his debut as the 13th national team manager in the history of the German Football Association, Jürgen Klopp is relying primarily on tried-and-tested players.
However, at least one of the numerous newcomers in his XXL squad can likely harbour justified hopes of a place in the starting XI: Freiburg’s Philipp Treu is considered a strong contender for the right-back position ahead of Thursday’s Nations League match against the Netherlands in Amsterdam.
Predicted line-up with ter Stegen
The back four will be marshalled by returnee Marc-André ter Stegen, who will be back in goal for Germany for the first time since June 2025. Jonathan Tah, Nico Schlotterbeck and Nathaniel Brown are expected to complete the defensive line-up – the trio previously played together at the World Cup.
Alongside them at the time was captain Joshua Kimmich, whom Klopp is moving back into midfield. In the 4-3-3 system favoured by the new manager, Felix Nmecha could also feature, with Jamal Musiala in an attacking role. The attacking trio is likely to consist of the pacy wingers Karim Adeyemi and Kevin Schade, alongside Kai Havertz as the number nine. – The predicted line-ups:
Klopp’s side face the Oranje stars
Netherlands: Verbruggen/Brighton & Hove Albion (24 years old/33 caps) – Dumfries/Real Madrid (30/76), van Hecke/Tottenham Hotspur (26/16), van Dijk/Liverpool FC (35/96), van de Ven/Tottenham Hotspur (25/24) – Gravenberch/Liverpool FC (24/31), Veerman/Borussia Dortmund (27/16), Reijnders/Al-Quadsiah (28/35) – Summerville/Al-Hilal (24/6), Brobbey/AFC Sunderland (24/16), Gakpo/Liverpool FC (27/54). – Manager: Xavi
Germany: ter Stegen/Ajax Amsterdam (34/44) – Treu/SC Freiburg (25/0), Tah/Bayern Munich (30/51), Schlotterbeck/Borussia Dortmund (26/29), Brown/Bayern Munich (23/8) – Kimmich/Bayern Munich (31/114), Musiala/Bayern Munich (23/46), Nmecha/Borussia Dortmund (25/12) – Adeyemi/FC Barcelona (24/11), Havertz/Arsenal (27/62), Schade/Brentford (24/5). – Manager: Klopp
