Alan Shearer has expressed scepticism about Jurgen Klopp's ability to quickly return the Germany national team to the upper echelons of world football. The ex-England striker believes the primary issue for Germany is a shortage of top-quality players.
Klopp's tenure with the national team has started somewhat chaotically. In four matches under his guidance, Germany has managed just one victory, with their latest outing against Greece in the Nations League ending in a disappointing 0-0 draw.
Shearer believes Klopp faces a challenge that cannot be solved merely through coaching prowess:
The key question for Klopp upon taking over the Germany team is whether he can turn it back into one of the leading forces in global football. He stepped in at a time when German football is far from its peak.
We have seen Germany's form in recent years, including at the World Cup where I covered several of their matches. They really looked poor.
According to Shearer, the current squad lacks the depth necessary to compete with the world's best:
I don't think they have many outstanding players right now. There might be one or two who are very, very good, but when it comes to the number of such players, I would be surprised if Klopp can bring Germany back to the level where they are challenging for victories in the Euros and World Cups.
I just don't see it happening soon because, in my view, they simply lack the talent for those kinds of results – no matter how great a coach Klopp is.
Klopp took charge after a disappointing World Cup campaign where Germany was eliminated in the Round of 16, losing to Paraguay on penalties following a 3-3 draw.
So far, the overhaul hasn't produced a dramatic improvement in results. With just a 25% win rate over four games, the German press has been critical of the team's disjointed performances and struggles in attack, especially after the stalemate with Greece.
Klopp’s next major tournament will be Euro 2028, followed by the World Cup in 2030. Before then, Germany faces a Nations League match against Serbia, where a win would secure their place in the quarter-finals.
