'Other countries are simply too good' - Jurgen Klopp tells Germany to abandon World Cup success fixation and avoid overreaction to disappointment

Germany’s footballing landscape is under scrutiny as Klopp advises a measured approach to the 2026 World Cup. Speaking to Kicker, Klopp praised Julian Nagelsmann’s squad but emphasised that participation does not equal a mandate to win. 

Germany last won the World Cup in 2014 but crashed out at the group stage in 2014 and 2018, while their 2024 European Championship campaign came to an end with a controversial defeat to Spain in the quarter-finals. More recently, Nagelsmann's side finished fourth in the 2025 Nations League Finals, losing 2-1 to Portugal in the semis and 2-0 to France in the third-place play-off. In World Cup qualifiers, they suffered a historic 2-0 loss to Slovakia away from home, their first-ever opening defeat in a World Cup qualifying campaign. Meanwhile, teams like Spain, France, England, and Portugal have consistently shown dominance in recent tournaments, underscoring Klopp’s warning about the difficulty of assuming automatic success.

The ex-Liverpool manager contends for a realistic approach towards the World Cup for Germany. The 58-year-old coach turned global head for Red Bull holds Nagelsmann in high-regards but at the same time is vary of the level of competition Germany is heading into.

"I respect Julian Nagelsmann, I like him a lot. He's an exceptional colleague. I think he has a really, really great team, especially when all the injured players are back. Nevertheless, we should abandon the idea that if we participate in the tournament, we have to win it. I don't know or understand the exact reasons why this should be the case, and why we have to rethink everything if we're eliminated in the semi-finals or quarter-finals. Other countries are simply too good for that, whether that's France or Spain. Or England, who could have won more in recent years with what they have at their disposal," Klopp said.

"First of all, I'm not worried because I'm convinced the quality of the players, and especially the coach, is high enough. That's why I'm very optimistic, but you won't hear me say we'll win it. Two things are important: We have to qualify first, of course, and then we have to develop into the tournament, as we did at the 2024 European Championship on home soil. Even if the bare-bones performance, with a quarterfinal exit, wasn't that great, it was fun to watch. And that's what football is all about for all of us, first and foremost."

Beyond World Cup ambitions, Klopp is emphasising the importance of developing the next generation. He has reiterated his proposal for a U21 league in Germany, aimed at better supporting young footballers during their critical transition from youth to professional football. “There is absolutely openness, but at some point, of course, the clubs have to get involved - all of them,” he stressed, underlining the need for systemic collaboration.

The rationale is clear: many promising talents struggle to gain meaningful minutes in senior football, stalling their development. For instance, Florian Wirtz, the Bayer Leverkusen sensation, broke into the first team at just 17 and thrived thanks to consistent playing time in Bundesliga matches which is a luxury not every top prospect receives.

A dedicated U21 league in Germany would create such opportunities domestically, offering competitive matches rather than sporadic youth appearances or bench time. Players would face high-level opposition, adapt to faster-paced senior football, and reduce the risk of stagnation. In the long term, this could strengthen the German national team by producing professionals who are tactically and physically ready for both club and international challenges, ensuring that talents like Jamal Musiala or Angelo Stiller remain nurtured at home rather than relying on early moves abroad.

Germany had a volatile start to the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers, suffering a defeat away to Slovakia, their first-ever loss in an opening World Cup qualifier. Nagelsmann publicly criticised the squad's lack of "willingness and desire" following the historic result. However, Germany has since recovered with three straight wins, including a dominant victory against Luxembourg, to now sit top of Group A with nine points, ahead of Slovakia only on goal difference. While the recent victories provide necessary momentum, the campaign remains a work in progress marked by inconsistency and high scrutiny on the coach.