Klopp Excludes Undav from Germany Squad but Keeps Future in Mind

Deniz Undav is out of Jürgen Klopp’s first Germany squad, but not out of his thoughts.

According to Bild, the new Bundestrainer still counts the 30-year-old VfB Stuttgart striker as part of his long-term plans and has already sat down with him in Stuttgart to talk about the future of the national team. The decision to omit him this time is described as purely a consequence of his current fitness.

Undav has been carrying stubborn Achilles tendon problems for weeks. The issue has shaped his start to the season. He was forced off early in each of Stuttgart’s first two Bundesliga matches, and in the 2-1 defeat at TSG Hoffenheim at the weekend he only came on as a substitute.

The result: in the league, he is still waiting for his first direct goal involvement of the campaign. His creative touch has surfaced elsewhere. In the DFB Cup win over Hansa Rostock and in the Champions League victory against Viking Stavanger, Undav delivered two assists in each game, reminding everyone why he became such a key figure for club and country last year.

Klopp’s message is clear: get fit, and the door stays open. The upcoming international break is set to become a rehab window for Undav, a chance to reset his body rather than travel with the national team.

The numbers from last season still speak loudly. Undav finished as the highest-scoring German striker across all competitions with 25 goals, adding 14 assists. At the World Cup in North America, a tournament that ended in a round-of-32 exit to Paraguay and was widely viewed as a debacle for Germany, he was one of the few players to enhance his reputation. Often used as a super sub, he injected life into a faltering side. When he finally started against Paraguay, though, he couldn’t influence the game. Even so, nine goals in 13 internationals underline his efficiency at this level.

He is not the only Stuttgart player to miss out. Angelo Stiller and Jamie Leweling, both 25 and both part of that World Cup squad, are also absent from Klopp’s first selection.

Stuttgart are still represented. Finn Jeltsch (20), Maximilian Mittelstädt (29), Josha Vagnoman (25) and Chris Führich (28) have all been called up, a nod to the club’s recent rise and the profile of players Klopp wants to work with.

Undav, for now, watches from home. The question is simple: once his Achilles allows him to sprint again, how quickly will he force his way back into Klopp’s plans?