Jürgen Klopp-Thomas Müller pundit duo sparks row in Germany at the World Cup | OneFootball

Magenta Sport, Deutsche Telekom's streaming channel, enlisted Jürgen Klopp and Thomas Müller as star pundits for the entire World Cup, but their forthright on-air exchanges have already caused a storm in Germany.

The flashpoint came on Thursday, before Germany's 7-1 win over Curaçao, when Klopp, Liverpool's manager from 2015 to 2024, said it was fortunate Julian Nagelsmann was picking the team, then twice added that it was only for now. Müller, who retired from international duty after Euro 2024, laughed and said it was June and Klopp sounded like September. For weeks, Klopp has been viewed as a leading candidate should the national job fall vacant.

The line drew heavy criticism, with Stefan Effenberg telling Sport1 that such comments might belong over a beer, not before millions of viewers, and calling it unacceptable.

The former Germany forward, capped 131 times with 45 goals, said their debates are lively and meant to share enthusiasm as devoted supporters, that they discuss tactics objectively and that they will not change their personalities.

Klopp also suggested Jamal Musiala be benched during the group stage, a stance that surprised Lothar Matthäus. In Bild, the record caps holder said Germany need Musiala's quality, argued the remarks do not help Nagelsmann, and wondered how Klopp would have reacted to similar advice before a big Champions League tie.

Several days later, on Monday morning in the United States, Klopp apologised to Nagelsmann. He said he was speaking as a consultant rather than a journalist, added he did not have to be neutral at all times, admitted the remark was thoughtless and should not harm anyone, and joked on the eve of his 59th birthday that he was still an idiot.

Source: L'Équipe