Klopp decides on Germany's centre-back pairing to face Serbia

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·1 October 2026

Klopp decides on Germany's centre-back pairing to face Serbia

Germany coach Jürgen Klopp is set to change his entire defence from Sunday's 0-1 defeat to Greece for Thursday's match against Serbia, with the second group of players from his 44-man extended squad now taking over.

Borussia Dortmund duo Waldemar Anton and Nico Schlotterbeck looked set to start together, but Klopp has had to change his plans after the latter was forced to pull out of the squad due to an injury picked up in training on Wednesday.

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According to Bild, the decision has now been made for AC Milan's Malick Thiaw to start alongside Anton in central defence.

The only natural alternative is Stuttgart's Finn Jeltsch, who is expected to make his senior international debut either off the bench against Serbia or on Sunday in the reverse fixture against Greece.