Jürgen Klopp has confirmed that Jonas Urbig will retain his place in goal for Germany’s Nations League clash with Greece on Sunday evening, contradicting earlier indications that Finn Dahmen was set to make his senior international debut.
Earlier reports had pointed toward the Augsburg goalkeeper receiving his first cap, with GGFN reporting that Dahmen appeared increasingly likely to become the fourth different goalkeeper used by Klopp in his opening four matches.
Klopp initially cast doubt on those reports during his Saturday press conference.
“At the moment, it looks as though we won’t make a change tomorrow,” the Bundestrainer said, before adding: “But who knows?”
Klopp subsequently offered a much more definitive explanation.
Klopp confirms Urbig start against Greece
“The other lads [Dahmen and Atubolu] who were here are all playing regularly for their clubs,” Klopp explained. “Urbig hasn’t done that, so he gets this game. That’s how we planned it. But they’ve all made a top impression. We won’t have any problems in that area.”
Urbig started Germany’s 2-0 victory over Serbia on Thursday and kept a clean sheet on his senior international debut.
The Bayern Munich goalkeeper has, however, found regular competitive minutes harder to come by at club level. According to Klopp, that distinction explains why the 23-year-old will receive another opportunity in Thessaloniki.
Crucially, the Germany coach also stressed that Urbig’s selection should not be interpreted as an indication that he has moved to the front of the national-team goalkeeping hierarchy. Klopp explicitly stated that the decision has nothing to do with establishing a new German No. 1.
