Jürgen Klopp joked that he personally knows more Dutch players than Netherlands coach Xavi ahead of Germany’s Nations League match in Amsterdam. It is Klopp’s first game in charge of Germany since taking over from Julian Nagelsmann in late July.
Klopp said he did not know whether that familiarity would be an advantage. He worked with Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch at Liverpool; his teams had also faced Frenkie de Jong, Nathan Aké, Matthijs de Ligt, Jeremie Frimpong, Jurriën Timber, Sven Botman, Donyell Malen, Brian Brobbey, Bart Verbruggen, Memphis Depay and Stefan de Vrij.
The article describes the match as a tactical contest and says pressure is high on Klopp. It notes Germany had a decent showing at Euro 2024 on home soil but, in the article’s assessment, had been below its level for too long.
