Klopp advocates positive patriotism in first Germany squad announcement

Germany manager Jürgen Klopp used his first squad announcement to advocate for "positive patriotism" and to reclaim national pride from far-right politics, while also naming an unusually large 44-man squad to assess players for upcoming Nations League matches. In a press conference in Frankfurt on September 17, 2026, Klopp referenced a recent state election victory by the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The AfD won nearly 44 percent of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt on September 6. Klopp stated he wants to ensure national pride is not "entrusted to the wrong people." "A crazy amount of things have happened not that long ago. There was a vote which some people probably found OK, but others would have thought good heavens, what's going on here?" Klopp said. "From the perspective of someone in sport, I'd like to reclaim the flag for myself and for us. When we wave it, I don't want that someone thinks what's going on with you? I want that they think you're happy and you understand how lucky you are to be born in this wonderful country or to have moved here and live here.