HSV star on Klopp’s list? How good are Remberg’s Germany chances | OneFootball

HSV and the DFB team have not had all that much to do with each other for quite some time. That could change on Thursday when Jürgen Klopp names his first squad ever. Captain Nicolai Remberg is said to have a chance of being included.

Even before the World Cup, a few people in Hamburg were already shouting his name from the rooftops when it came to squad nominations. As is well known, he did not make the World Cup squad. Even so, the rumor that the 26-year-old could be on Jürgen Klopp’s radar continues to persist.

One reason for that is surely that, with an eye on the upcoming four Nations League matches, the national coach is reportedly considering a significantly expanded squad and is said to have numerous debutants on his list. According to Sky, one of them is also the Hamburger SV captain.

Qualities the DFB could use

Nicolai Remberg built a very strong case for himself, especially last season. The love story between HSV fans and their current captain began very soon after he signed his contract in June 2025. He was not one of the promotion heroes, but one of the new faces brought in to secure survival in the league. Remberg not only lived up to that task, he exceeded expectations almost immediately.

The central midfielder never shies away from a challenge and is usually responsible for winning the ball back in defense as well as playing the first passes to the quick attacking players. Observers are especially impressed by his very composed and intelligent style of play. He spots spaces, closes them down in time, and leaves opponents with no room to combine. Aerial duels are a particular specialty of his, and he is also known for excellent timing in tackles. On top of that, he has mastered the “dirty game” that fans always appreciate.

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Even so, Remberg—who has earned the nickname “Rambo”—is not just a pure ball-winner and does not rely solely on mentality. He also operates as a player with a strong understanding of the game, always keeping a close eye on his midfield partners in the holding role. He also carried a huge share of the communication on the pitch last season, both with opponents and teammates. It was thanks in part to him that Hamburg often impressed with a stable defense. His contribution to avoiding relegation can hardly be overstated.

Is the HSV crisis a deal-breaker?

That he did not make the World Cup squad, even though he was reportedly on Julian Nagelsmann’s radar according to Sport Bild, did not come as a major surprise. Klopp’s supposed XXL squad nomination would now be a huge opportunity, and his inclusion certainly does not seem unrealistic. There is, however, one “but”: this chance may have come at the worst possible time.

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Remberg’s form curve steadily improved over the course of last season, and he was rewarded for his performances in this year’s preseason with the captain’s armband. The trajectory was positive—until the start of the season. At the beginning of the year, Remberg said on Aktuelles Sportstudio that the most important thing was to first make sure the team was defensively solid. He also said the team must not fall apart, especially during winless spells.

Pretty much everyone would agree with that. But that is exactly the principle his team seems to have forgotten at the start of this season. HSV’s nightmare start may therefore have ruined his national team chances. That is also because the new captain has so far barely, if at all, managed to build on his strong performances from last year.

He did not just stand out negatively before the 0–1 defeat against Mainz, when he played a misplaced pass into double coverage and paved the way for the embarrassment. Against Leipzig as well, Remberg and Lokonga as a double pivot lacked too much overall security on the ball and opened up the gaps through which RB found it easy to play simple but quick combinations, making the defenders behind them look like lower-division players.

In-form competition is waiting

What is also clear, though, is this: there have only been three matches so far, in which a lot unfortunately went wrong all at once. Among other things, the lack of cohesion had a negative impact. Remberg was by no means the only one guilty of individual mistakes. When a team gets into that kind of downward spiral, it is extremely difficult—if not impossible—for one single leader to make up for it alone.

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His mix of ball-winning ability and passing security would certainly not be uninteresting for the German national team. The responsibility he carries off the pitch is also a useful added quality, something the DFB team has often lacked in recent years.

Whether that will be enough, given a nightmare start to the season, inadequate form, and at least two other surprise candidates for central midfield, remains to be seen. According to Sky, the more attack-minded Anton Kade and Merlin Röhl are also in the broader sights of the new national coach—and both, with their clubs Augsburg and Everton respectively, have started the new season far more successfully.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.