Nick Woltemade Left Out of Germany Squad as Jürgen Klopp Keeps the Door Open
Nick Woltemade’s recent recognition as Juventus’ Player of the Month has not been enough to secure a place in Germany’s squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures. National-team coach Jürgen Klopp has omitted the 24-year-old forward, but stressed that the decision is not a permanent judgment on his international future.
Woltemade is one of several notable players left out, alongside defenders Yann Aurel Bisseck and forward Karim Adeyemi. Asked whether those omissions meant the players’ chances with Germany were over, Klopp rejected the idea outright. “For heaven’s sake, we’d be crazy to close any doors,” he said, making clear that future selections will depend on form, fitness and the needs of the team.
Klopp explains the thinking behind Woltemade’s omission
Klopp said he had spoken at length with Woltemade, whose first months in Italy have been challenging. The striker joined Juventus on loan from Newcastle United, but has yet to score in Serie A. His overall contribution has been more encouraging in European competition, where he has recorded three goals and an assist in the Europa League.
Those performances, Klopp suggested, show that Woltemade is beginning to find his footing despite the pressure surrounding him. The forward has faced criticism in the Italian media as Juventus search for consistency, but the Germany coach was careful not to place the club’s wider problems on one player.
“Nick is actually going through a good spell at Juve right now, to be honest. A lot is coming back,” Klopp said. He acknowledged that the move had not been easy and that Juventus themselves were still working to rediscover their best level. The club’s difficulties, he added, were “of course not down to Nick. Not even remotely.”
Klopp nevertheless identified an area where Woltemade can improve: his immediate goal threat. The coach praised the striker’s ability to link play and help his team build attacks, but said that selection also depends on how well players match the team’s current requirements.
“Nick is on the right track,” Klopp explained. “He’s lacking a little in outright goal threat. His ability to develop and sustain play is there. And so, of course, no door is closed.” Klopp described leaving him out as a difficult choice, while noting that current form can sometimes outweigh a player’s previous contributions.
Germany’s forward options are in strong form
Woltemade’s absence creates an opportunity for Niclas Füllkrug, who returns to the national team after more than a year away. Klopp called the decision to recall him relatively straightforward, pointing to the striker’s scoring record for Werder Bremen. Füllkrug offers Germany a more established penalty-box presence, giving the coach a different option in attack.
Two other forwards in the squad have also made strong cases for selection. Younes Ebnoutalib has scored eight goals in ten games for Eintracht Frankfurt, while Kai Havertz continues to deliver at club level. Havertz’s recent winner for Arsenal against Liverpool also made him the highest-scoring German player in Premier League history, adding another milestone to his growing record.
With several attackers producing goals, the competition for places is intense. For Klopp, that depth is a positive, but it also means that a player’s reputation or past international impact cannot guarantee selection. A football prediction about Germany’s starting lineup is therefore difficult to make from one squad announcement alone: performance in training, tactical balance and the opponents’ strengths will all shape the final decision.
Woltemade’s Germany career has already had major highs and setbacks
Woltemade’s omission stands out because he had been called up to every Germany training camp since making his international debut in the summer of 2025. During a difficult stretch in World Cup qualifying, he took on greater responsibility after Havertz was injured and scored four goals across the final three matches of the campaign.
That run established him as a promising option for Germany and demonstrated his ability to contribute when the team needed attacking inspiration. However, the next chapter brought a painful setback. Woltemade featured in Germany’s disappointing round-of-32 World Cup defeat to Paraguay and missed a penalty in the shootout, a moment that carried significant consequences for the team.
After Klopp took charge of the national side, Woltemade was included in an expanded squad and appeared in the final two matches against Serbia and Greece. His performance against Serbia was particularly frustrating: he missed a clear chance from close range in front of an unguarded goal. Such moments can influence selection, especially when several rivals are scoring regularly for their clubs.
What the decision means for Woltemade’s next steps
For now, the message from Klopp is one of competition rather than exclusion. Woltemade’s record in Europe, his past goals for Germany and his ability to connect midfield with attack remain valuable parts of his profile. But to strengthen his case for a recall, he will likely need to turn promising spells into more consistent end product, particularly in front of goal.
His immediate focus is Juventus, where a first Serie A goal could help quiet criticism and build confidence. Continued involvement in the Europa League may also provide opportunities to show that his recent progress is more than a short-term improvement. At the same time, Germany’s crowded forward line means that every selection window will bring fresh pressure.
Klopp’s comments leave little doubt that Woltemade remains part of the national-team conversation. The decision to leave him out reflects the current balance of form and options, not a closed door. If the striker can maintain his development in Turin and become more decisive in the final third, a return to Germany’s squad remains a realistic possibility.
