Jürgen Klopp has already trimmed a crowded group into something more defined for Germany. He called up 44 players split across two squads for the fixtures with Greece, the Netherlands and Serbia, and the early read is that the spine is settling around Marc-André Ter Stegen, Joshua Kimmich and Nico Schlotterbeck.

Goalkeeper and midfield choices

Klopp’s view on the goalkeeping spot was the clearest part of the discussion. Speaking to bundesliga.com, he said, "A team needs stability and a spine, and then you can add a lot of youth around that. I’ve known him for ages. Manuel Neuer was the best goalkeeper in the world for a long time. Nevertheless, everyone knew that ter Stegen was world-class too."

That lines up with the way Jonas Urbig was used as well. He made two assured appearances and kept two clean sheets in the win over Serbia and the draw against Greece, while Philipp Treu completed 90 minutes in three of Germany’s four games and looks the clear favourite at right-back.

The midfield case is built around Kimmich’s rhythm. He only took part in the first two games of the international break, but his club form for Bayern München is strong enough to keep him central to the plan. Kimmich has a 7.75 Bundesliga rating, and Bayern have won four of their last five matches.

Schlotterbeck’s case at the back

Schlotterbeck is starting to look harder to leave out. He and Malick Thiaw started together in the win over Serbia and the stalemate in Thessaloniki, keeping two clean sheets, and Klopp described the pairing as "very interesting".

The club numbers back up the same idea. Schlotterbeck has a 6.97 Bundesliga rating and has already made two Bundesliga appearances this season. His Germany-level rating of 6.9 is steady rather than flashy, but that is enough in a back line that has looked organised when he has been in it.

Klopp also joked about Germany finally having a natural left-back again, then using Nathaniel Brown as a number 10. The joke lands because the rest of the selection debate feels more settled than that. Ter Stegen, Kimmich and Schlotterbeck all look well placed in the structure, and Germany’s final shape should be easier to read once the next round of squad decisions comes into focus.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →