Klopp names 44 players in two Germany squads as he turns the Nations League into an audition

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Jürgen Klopp called up 44 players in two separate Germany squads Thursday ahead of four Nations League games but dropped the team's top scorer from the World Cup.

Klopp's double roster turns the upcoming games against the Netherlands, Greece and Serbia into an extended audition for places ahead of the next major tournament, the 2028 European Championship.

Stars like Florian Wirtz and Kai Havertz will likely be limited to a maximum of two of the games as Klopp looks to fit in more new faces and reduce the workload on players.

It continues his unorthodox start to life in international soccer after he began by threatening to resign if he felt criticism was too overwhelming or the media was too intrusive.

Many of the players called up Thursday have never played for Germany's senior team. Some, like Elversberg midfielder Felix Keidel and Eintracht Frankfurt forward Younes Ebnoutalib, have only played a handful of top-division club games.

The only squad limit in the league phase is that teams must submit a list of 23 before midnight ahead of each game, but they can switch out players between games.

There is no place for Deniz Undav, who led Germany with three goals and two assists at the World Cup before a round-of-32 loss on penalties to Paraguay spelled the end of coach Julian Nagelsmann's tenure. Galatasaray winger Leroy Sane also misses out and won't add to his 80 caps for Germany.

Germany starts against the Netherlands on Sept. 24, before playing Greece three days later, Serbia on Oct. 1 and Greece again Oct. 4.

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