Jonas Urbig will start for Germany in Thessaloniki, three days after making his senior international debut. Jürgen Klopp confirmed the Bayern Munich goalkeeper for the return match in Greece at Toumba Stadium.
- Urbig, 23, will win his second cap after playing in Thursday’s 2-0 win over Serbia.
- He is the only goalkeeper set to play two consecutive matches in Klopp’s first international window as Germany coach.
- Finn Dahmen was the sole goalkeeper present throughout the entire camp, but will not start in Greece.
- Marc ter Stegen began the cycle in the 1-1 draw in the Netherlands and was initially named Germany’s No. 1.
- Alexander Nübel played in the 1-0 loss to Greece in Augsburg.
- Klopp said Urbig’s selection is not a change in the pecking order. The reason is match practice: Urbig is Manuel Neuer’s deputy at Bayern, while Dahmen is Augsburg’s regular starter and Noah Atubolu is first choice in Frankfurt.
- “It has nothing to do with No. 1 status,” Klopp said. He added that every goalkeeper had trained at an outstanding level.
What it changes in the Bundesliga week
Urbig returns to Bayern with another senior international appearance, but Klopp has not presented it as a signal over Neuer or Germany’s longer-term goalkeeper hierarchy. His second start is a response to limited minutes at club level.
Klopp has not disclosed the rest of his team. He made five changes from the draw in Amsterdam before the Greece match in Augsburg and did not rule out another rotation. The coach stressed that Germany need a strong result against the current group leaders.
“We want to put out a team that has a big chance of winning,” Klopp said. He also said every player in camp had earned consideration after a high standard in training, and spoke positively about the squad’s future.
