Jürgen Klopp made a grown journalist cry before coaching a single match. That's the level of expectation descending on Germany's new national team coach ahead of Thursday's Nations League opener in Amsterdam against the Netherlands. "Bring the flag back," he told the nation at his squad announcement — and the editor-in-chief of Bild apparently wept on camera. No pressure, then.
His first squad of 44 players reflects both ambition and curiosity. Alongside recognizable names, Klopp has called up Felix Keidel — four Bundesliga appearances with newly promoted Elversberg — and overseas-based players like Mika Baur (Celtic) and Vitaly Janelt (Brentford). Meanwhile, Leroy Sané and Oliver Baumann are absent. Whether this is bold squad-building or early chaos dressed up as vision, we'll find out soon enough.
Xavi in Amsterdam, Van Bommel in Rome
The Netherlands have their own new face in the dugout. Xavi — yes, that Xavi — has taken over from Ronald Koeman, reportedly as the third choice on the federation's list. He's the first foreign coach to manage the Oranje since Ernst Happel in the late 1970s. His Barcelona record: one La Liga title in nearly three seasons. That's the CV walking into one of Europe's most demanding jobs.
The Barcelona-Netherlands cultural thread — Michels, Cruyff, Koeman — clearly got him the role. Whether his possession-heavy ideology translates to international football remains his biggest test. Dutch outright odds will hinge heavily on how quickly he gets his ideas across.
Belgium open on Friday in Rome with Mark van Bommel in charge, replacing Rudi Garcia. The former Bayern captain has a deep talent pool but an awkward transitional squad — Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku are still in the picture despite inconsistent form. Van Bommel's first four games include Turkey and two matches against France. He'll know exactly where Belgium stand by the end of October.
Zidane's France, Mancini's Italy, and the Rest
Zinédine Zidane is the only appointment in this cycle that felt genuinely inevitable. After 14 years of Didier Deschamps — functional, winning, rarely beautiful — France wanted someone who could make them good to watch again. "Return of the king," said L'Equipe. Zidane's first 23-man squad includes five newcomers and has Fabien Barthez alongside him as goalkeeper coach. France begin Friday against Turkey in Izmit. The talent on that roster is self-evident. The pressure is immense.
Italy, meanwhile, did something characteristically convoluted. Before reinstating Roberto Mancini — the man who won Euro 2021, then quit for Saudi Arabia in 2023 — the federation had a 16-day window under Paolo Maldini as technical director. During those 16 days, Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti both said no. Third choice Andrea Pirlo agreed, then was ruled out over business ties to Russia. So Mancini returned and opened his second tenure with a public apology. Quite the administrative process for a four-time World Cup winner.
- Portugal have appointed Jorge Jesus, 72, fresh from winning the Saudi league title with Al-Nassr and Cristiano Ronaldo. First match: Thursday against Wales.
- Croatia have recalled Slaven Bilic, who previously coached them from 2006 to 2012. Luka Modric could win his 203rd cap on Saturday against the Czech Republic.
- Czech Republic have hired Spaniard Santi Denia — their first ever foreign head coach.
Seven nations, seven new chapters. The Nations League has rarely carried this much managerial intrigue. The coaches with the most scrutiny — Klopp, Zidane, Xavi — are also coaching teams that the market prices as contenders. How they set up in these opening matches will tell you a lot about where the smart money should sit heading into qualifying.
