- Published
It has been quite the ride since Jurgen Klopp was announced as Germany's head coach in July.
asserted
Klopp → publish → July
In his first news conference, Klopp admonished the media, urging them to treat him fairly and refrain from any attacks against his family.
asserted
Klopp → admonish → family
Last Thursday, during another media conference, Klopp called for "positive patriotism" amid political turmoil in the country.
asserted
Klopp → call → country
When asked whether he considers himself an ambassador for Germany in his new role, Klopp's answer was a serious one.
asserted
answer → ask → role
"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," said Klopp.
asserted
Klopp → say → us
"I want it so that when someone waves it, no-one thinks: 'What is wrong with you?'
asserted
What → want → 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."
asserted
you → want → country
His statement was made in light of the success of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the state election in Saxony-Anhalt.
asserted
statement → make → Anhalt
The anti-immigration party has since scored another win in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
asserted
party → score → Pomerania
Klopp's remarks were widely and positively discussed in the media - the German national team represents a diverse Germany, as several players come from a migrant background.
asserted
players → discuss → background
KIopp also remarked about the recent success of Alexander Zverev at the US Open, the women's basketball team at the European Championship and German athletes at the European Athletics Championships, saying sport can ensure "a sense of community".
asserted
sport → remark → community
He added: "This is our mission: we need to create a good atmosphere."
asserted
we → add → atmosphere
Klopp knows, intentionally or not, how to make headlines.
However, the German Football Association (DFB) didn't hire the former Liverpool boss on an annual salary of £6m to become a commentator on the state of Germany - but to transform a floundering national team.
asserted
Association → know → team
Between the two news conferences, Klopp looked like the busiest national team boss on the planet, making countless visits to league games and training facilities.
asserted
Klopp → look → games
One day fans could see Klopp sitting in the stands of Dortmund's Signal Iduna Park, his old stomping ground and, not long after, they may have caught a picture of him in the VIP lounge of Mainz's stadium or somewhere near Eintracht Frankfurt's training pitch talking to players.
uncertain
they → see → players
Klopp has approached this new job with open eyes.
asserted
Klopp → approach → eyes
Initially, the charismatic 59-year-old drew up a list of 57 players who could have been selected for this first international break.
uncertain
who → draw → break
"Players will receive chances who don't even expect it yet," Klopp said in July.
asserted
Klopp → receive → July
In the flavour of a trial-and-error principle, Klopp and his staff decided to select two almost completely different squads for the upcoming four games.
asserted
Klopp → decide → games
The first squad, including Joshua Kimmich, Kai Havertz and Jamal Musiala, will face arch-rivals the Netherlands at Johan Cruyff Arena on Thursday (19:45 BST) and host Greece on Sunday.
asserted
squad → include → Sunday
The second squad, with Florian Wirtz and Aleksandar Pavlovic, face Serbia at home and Greece on the road in the second half of this international break.
asserted
squad → face → break
The only player who was selected for both is back-up goalkeeper Finn Dahmen.
asserted
who → select → both
'It could be wild, but I accept that'
uncertain
I → accept → that
The selection process means we will not see Germany's best starting XI this time around.
asserted
we → mean → XI
Instead, Klopp clearly intends to try out new players, some of whom played in Germany's second tier only a few months ago.
asserted
some → intend → tier
Take, for example, Felix Keidel, a 23-year-old full-back-midfielder hybrid from recently promoted SV Elversberg.
A year ago, Keidel was as far away from the national team as the Oktoberfest from Rio Carnival.
asserted
Keidel → take → Carnival
Now Keidel - just like Mika Baur, Bambase Conte, Max Rosenfelder, Philipp Treu, and Vitaly Janelt - has the chance to show he could be a valuable cog in the machine.
uncertain
he → have → machine
Klopp has never built his success merely on star names - he has always taken a liking to undervalued and overlooked players.
He once signed an little-known Polish winger by the name of Lukasz Piszczek and moulded him into one of the best right-backs in Europe who would go toe-to-toe with Cristiano Ronaldo in his prime.
asserted
who → build → prime
And he helped transform Andy Robertson into a force on Liverpool's left side.
asserted
he → help → side
Klopp's style helps to elevate all the members of his squad - not just the most talented.
asserted
style → help → squad
Fitness and mental readiness are highly important, and some newcomers might just have that to impress the new manager.
uncertain
newcomers → have → manager
But man-marking is prevalent in Germany's top flight, while Klopp prefers his teams to close down the player in possession to create superior numbers around the ball.
asserted
teams → prefer → ball
So some of the Bundesliga players will have to adapt quickly.
asserted
some → have → players
"It is not important who plays but how someone plays," Klopp said last week.
asserted
Klopp → play → ?
"I expect a lot from the beginning.
asserted
I → expect → beginning
It could be a bit wild, but I accept that.
uncertain
I → accept → that
It just has to be lively.
asserted
It → have → ?
Klopp has chosen younger squads compared to the ones we saw in the past couple of years.
asserted
we → choose → years
Manuel Neuer, Antonio Rudiger and Pascal Gross have retired from international football, and other 30-somethings might just not receive a chance to get into the team again.
uncertain
somethings → retire → team
"I think it is about time to wish the new generation best of luck," Gross said after Brighton's win over Arsenal on Saturday.
asserted
Gross → think → Saturday
…and 17 more, not listed.
The Aporia
.jpeg?width=1200&auto=webp&quality=75)
