Klopp wants to 'reclaim' flag amid German elections

ByBen Collins BBC Sport journalist.

Key points

• Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and defender Antonio Rudiger retired from international duty after Germany's second-round exit against Paraguay at this summer's World Cup.
• When the ruling Nazi party carried out the Holocaust, no far-right party has controlled a German state since World War Two.
• Klopp named 16 uncapped players in a 44-man squad for four upcoming Nations League matches over the space of two weeks.
• A group of 24 players will be available against the Netherlands in Amsterdam on 24 September and at home to Greece in Augsburg three days afterwards.
• The anti-immigration party additionally expects robust results in elections on Sunday in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

New Germany coach Jurgen Klopp notes his team can assist ensure "national pride is not entrusted to the wrong people" after a recent far-right election victory.

Notably, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party won 43.8% of the vote in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, falling just short of securing an absolute majority in the regional parliament.

For context, the anti-immigration party additionally expects robust results in elections on Sunday in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

While others were saying, 'my God, what is happening here?', speaking at a news conference to announce his first squad, Klopp stressed he is not a political expert but continued: We had an election where some residents may have thought it was OK.

From my perspective as a sportsman, I can say that I would particularly much like to reclaim the flag for myself, for all of us.

"I want it so that when someone waves it, no one thinks: 'What is wrong with you?' Instead, I want people to understand: You are happy and realise how lucky you were to be born, grow up, or move to this wonderful country."

"I do not want to entrust national pride to the wrong people, " remarked Klopp, who prefers the term "positive patriotism" to "national pride". It he fears can be misunderstood.

Meanwhile, the former Liverpool boss continued: "I can be proud to be German while also being open-minded and diverse, and kind and friendly."

Klopp additionally stated it was more significant that the country had enough doctors and caregivers but remarked football can "foster a sense of community, so that people can truly feel the power of sport." Who is in the Germany squad?

In practice, a group of 24 players will be available against the Netherlands in Amsterdam on 24 September and at home to Greece in Augsburg three days afterwards.

Most of those players will then return to their clubs while the other 20 players will join the group before Germany face Serbia in Munich on 1 October and Greece in Thessaloniki on 4 October.

While Jamal Musiala is selected after twice collapsing during pre-season games for Bayern Munich, the first group includes Premier League trio Kai Havertz (Arsenal), Kevin Schade (Brentford) and Anton Stach (Leeds).

Brentford's Vitaly Janelt has received his first call-up as part of the second group. It additionally includes Florian Wirtz (Liverpool) and Malick Thiaw (Newcastle).

That led to the departure of coach Julian Nagelsmann and the subsequent appointment of Klopp. This person had been working as global head of soccer for Red Bull.

Taken together, the developments around klopp wants to ' reclaim' flag amid German elections point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.