Jürgen Klopp hands Jonas Urbig international debut in Germany clash with Serbia

Squad rotation and debut in Munich

Germany will face Serbia at the Allianz Arena in Munich on Thursday at 20:45 in the UEFA Nations League. Head coach Jürgen Klopp confirmed that 23-year-old Bayern Munich goalkeeper Jonas Urbig will start in goal, marking his first senior international appearance for the national team. Klopp is rotating his squad after managing two winless matches in his opening fixtures, following a 1-1 draw against the Netherlands and a 0-1 defeat to Greece. Urbig, who transferred to Bayern Munich from 1. FC Köln in January 2025 and has made 34 appearances for the club, described the opportunity to start in Munich as a lifelong objective.

This is a moment you have worked towards your whole life. I am simply delighted to get the opportunity to play here in my home stadium and do my part to ensure we earn our first victory under Jürgen Klopp as a team.

Goalkeeper selection and long-term succession

Urbig is one of five goalkeepers called up across Klopp's two distinct squad rosters as part of an evaluation process ahead of the 2028 European Championship. Marc-André ter Stegen, aged 34 with 45 caps, started against the Netherlands, while Alexander Nübel, with 4 caps, started against Greece before both departed the camp. Klopp rejected suggestions of a goalkeeper dilemma as he examines uncapped alternatives, including Augsburg goalkeeper Finn Dahmen, aged 28, and Noah Atubolu, aged 24, of Eintracht Frankfurt.

To be completely honest, we do not have one at all.

Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany endorsed Urbig's long-term trajectory for the national team, expressing certainty that the 23-year-old will secure the primary starting spot.

If anyone believes that Jonas will not eventually become Germany's number one, I think they are making a big mistake. The boy will eventually be the number one.

Defensive adjustments and captaincy decision

Klopp must also adjust his defensive unit following an injury to Borussia Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck, who suffered an injury during warm-ups at the final training session in Herzogenaurach. Newcastle United captain Malick Thiaw and Dortmund defender Waldemar Anton are positioned to anchor the central defense, with David Raum and Ridle Baku expected to operate on the defensive flanks. Klopp withheld his confirmed lineup and did not name a designated match captain to replace regular skipper Joshua Kimmich, indicating that seniority in caps will decide the armband on the pitch.

International experience in the squad

With Kimmich absent under the rotation plan for the two international fixture weeks, forward Serge Gnabry stands as the most experienced player in the squad with 61 caps, ahead of Florian Wirtz with 46 caps and David Raum with 39 caps. The squad includes nine uncapped players in total, creating potential debut paths for Brentford midfielder Vitaly Janelt, Köln winger Said El Mala, and defender Finn Jeltsch. Bayern Munich midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic is expected to anchor the midfield alongside Wirtz, while Jonathan Burkardt and Nick Woltemade represent options at center-forward. Germany seeks its first win under Klopp before travelling to face Greece in the subsequent fixture.