The newspaper sees this as a disqualification of Klopp as a potential national team coach.
FAZ draws a historical comparison: at the 1994 World Cup in the USA, Franz Beckenbauer sat as an expert for the pay-TV channel Premiere right next to the German team quarters – much to the annoyance of national coach Berti Vogts. Beckenbauer was considered a shadow national coach who undermined Vogts’ authority. The situation is now similar for Julian Nagelsmann, who has a prominent shadow at his side in Klopp.
Klopp caused a stir with a comment at the Magenta microphone: he said that fortunately Nagelsmann is making the lineup – and added the word “still.” Later he tried to take back the statement by declaring his “still” the non-word of the year and calling himself “stupid.” FAZ sees a parallel to Beckenbauer, who never took back his remarks at Vogts’ expense.
EuroPulse reported on June 15, 2026, about Matthäus’ criticism of Klopp’s statements before the World Cup opener (https://europulse.today/matthaeus-kritisiert-klopp-aussagen-zur-wm/).
Source: www.faz.net
