Jürgen Klopp backs Liverpool's Florian Wirtz after Toni Kroos' criticism ahead of Nations League

German national team boss Jürgen Klopp has expressed his desire to lessen the pressure on Liverpool playmaker Florian Wirtz, following criticism from former Germany star Toni Kroos. Klopp discussed his initial conversations with Wirtz after his appointment as Germany's head coach. Wirtz has faced scrutiny for his performances at both club and international levels since joining Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen for £116 million in 2025.

The criticism intensified after Germany's underwhelming performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. During a podcast interview, Kroos humorously suggested Wirtz as one of the three players he would include in Klopp's inaugural Germany squad, despite Wirtz's solid World Cup showing and impressive stats during his debut season at Liverpool.

Klopp emphasized that the pressure should not focus solely on Wirtz achieving standout moments but rather on him contributing effectively as part of the team. He stressed the importance of Wirtz feeling comfortable within the Germany setup and highlighted that even a game where Wirtz doesn't score or assist is valuable if he gives his all.

Klopp encouraged the team to recognize and appreciate Wirtz's efforts, regardless of the final score.