Klopp's Germany squad "in good shape" for Netherlands showdown
| Photo: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images. |
Jürgen Klopp remained tight-lipped regarding which individual will be dropped from his Germany squad ahead of Thursday night's clash with the Netherlands.
“I already know who I'm leaving out, but anything can happen overnight, so I'll announce it tomorrow.
“I've already spoken to the player, and he'll be in the squad next time,” he said, regarding his soon to be 23-man squad at today's press conference.
Otherwise, Germany's new head coach said he is looking forward to the game and feels his players are hitting top form already.
“The boys are all coming off a long pre-season, which means they all look very fit. Four Bundesliga matchdays have been played, and the boys are in good shape.
"They are outstanding talents, in every aspect of their game. The only problem is that the other countries have good players too.
"Tactics were invented precisely because football isn’t simply about having the best players; it’s about making sure the opponent’s strengths aren’t as visible.
“That’s what we’ve been working on. The way we play football can help these players become the very best versions of themselves,” he added.
Regarding the neighbourly rivalry between Germany and the Netherlands, the 59-year-old isn't paying that narrative any attention.
“That doesn’t mean anything to me, because I’ve never felt that rivalry. It would be better to ask Rudi Völler, as someone who actually experienced it firsthand.
"I know what this game means, and ideally, the atmosphere tomorrow night will be heated. It will be a difficult game for the players because the opposition is really good.
"It’s crazy how many top players the Dutch national team has. If we want to have any chance at all, we have to approach it as a real ‘derby.’
“For us, it’s the beginning of something. We want to get off to a good start. Everything surrounding the game only plays a minor role,” Klopp concluded.
