Klopp's Germany face Serbia and the Netherlands in Nations League finale

Two decisive matches in the final group week

Germany meet Serbia in Belgrade on Friday, 13 November, with kick-off at 20:45 on RTL, and then host the Netherlands at the Olympiastadion in Berlin on Monday, 16 November, also at 20:45 on ARD. Both games close the group phase of the Nations League, and the Berlin fixture is billed as the year-ending match. The Netherlands top the table on eight points, level with Greece, while Germany sit three points further back. Serbia have yet to pick up a point. Germany have played four group matches in September and October with mixed results, so both a knockout-round ticket and a relegation battle remain in play.

What two wins would change

Germany cannot finish first on their own power. Greece and the Netherlands would each finish ahead of them with one win and one draw, whatever the margin of Germany's victories. Two wins still leave the top spot possible if the rivals slip. Topping the group would bring a quarter-final against a group runner-up, which would most likely keep Germany away from Spain and France. Finishing second is seen as more realistic, and one win plus one draw might be enough for that position, depending on results elsewhere.

A further success would also push the start of the European Championship qualifiers back to September, because the Nations League final four is scheduled for June 2027. The qualifying phase would then consist of six matches in a four-team group. A playoff place for a EURO ticket would already be secured as a fallback if the qualifiers go wrong. The outcome also affects the following international calendar year and the 2028 European Championship.

Squad changes and tactical questions

Klopp named a squad of 24 players for the camp in Herzogenaurach. Waldemar Anton withdrew on Sunday, 8 November, and Ridle Baku was called up as his replacement. Klopp had earlier chosen Finn Jeltsch over Baku as a second right-back, saying of the Stuttgart defender: "Finn has made a really good impression on us in the training camp." Klopp wants different profiles in the full-back positions and sees the role as open to interpretation. Berliner Zeitung questioned the latest move, noting that Baku resembles Philipp Treu, the profile Klopp had wanted to avoid. With Anton gone, only three centre-backs remain, which could push Jeltsch into the middle. Baku shares the right-back job at his club with Benjamin Henrichs.

Team spirit and the new slogan

Klopp helped design a new team logo carrying the slogan "Für Dich. Für uns. Für Deutschland." The players saw it on an oversized video screen at the bungalow complex on the adidas site. Klopp wants the motto to be lived rather than treated as a marketing claim. Captain Joshua Kimmich leads the squad, Niclas Füllkrug returns from injury, and Florian Wirtz arrived from Liverpool. Wael Mohya, 17, is among the teenage newcomers. Klopp planned to address the squad only a few hours after arriving in Franconia.

“Many players are in a good phase. We feel well positioned.”