Lothar Matthäus—a man with 150 caps and a storied legacy with the *Nationalmannschaft*—saw far more than a mere numbers game in the selection of such an expanded squad. He saw a plan rooted in footballing logic, yet also driven by deep human consideration.

"It’s an excellent idea," he emphasized on *Sky90*, defending Klopp’s decision to essentially assemble two squads for four matches over a span of nine or ten days. At a time when domestic leagues are already underway and European competitions demand ever-increasing physical exertion, managing the workload is not a luxury; it is a necessity. The plan allows international players to avoid prolonged absences from their clubs while offering Klopp the chance to test personnel, combinations, and different tactical concepts. At the same time, it opens the door to the national team for a new generation, without burdening young players from day one with the weight of an entire nation.

However, what moved Matthäus the most was not the list itself; it was the way Klopp spoke about the individuals on it.

The 1990 World Cup winner watched the press conference for 45 minutes—something he admitted he rarely does—and was impressed by the attention the new national team coach paid to the inexperienced players. Thirteen or fourteen of those called up have not yet made a single appearance for the senior national team. Yet, Klopp did not treat them as mere squad fillers.

He spoke individually about their attributes: their strength, speed, one-on-one ability, and the threat they pose to the opposition goal. Where journalists hadn't even managed to mention certain names, he brought them to the forefront and gave them substance.

This is perhaps Klopp’s greatest strength. It makes a footballer feel a little taller, a little stronger, and far more indispensable. It doesn’t simply grant him a spot in the squad; it gives him a reason to believe he belongs there.

Matthäus doesn’t expect miracles in the first week. Germany won’t instantly transform into an invincible machine. He believes, however, that Klopp can—in a short space of time—provide the team with direction, unity, and the joy of the game once more.

And perhaps that is the new coach’s first major victory: before changing the team on the pitch, he began to change the way Germany views itself.