Germany defeated Serbia 2-0 in Munich, with Tom Bischof and Florian Wirtz scoring the goals as Klopp secured his first victory in his third match as national-team coach.
The performance was built around the aggressive pressing Klopp has demanded since taking charge. Germany repeatedly won possession back quickly after losing it, keeping Serbia pinned back for long periods.
“We were very good in the opening stages and could’ve done more with our possession in terms of scoring goals,” Klopp said. “I’m happy with everything – the beginning, the middle, and the end.”
The Germany coach was particularly pleased with the intensity without the ball.
“I’ve never watched a bad game when the gegenpressing was off the scale – and today that was the case again,” he said.
Germany finished with 32 attempts at goal to Serbia’s one, underlining the dominance of a side that had previously drawn with the Netherlands and lost to Greece under Klopp.
The result also provided the setting for Mika Baur’s arrival on the international stage.
The 22-year-old Celtic midfielder became the 1,000th player to represent Germany when he came on in the closing stages. It completed a remarkable rise after he moved to Scotland from Paderborn during the summer.
Klopp has been particularly impressed by Baur’s development. The midfielder had only recently established himself at Paderborn and had not been a regular for Germany Under-21s before receiving his senior call-up.
Klopp believes Baur deserves credit for choosing the demanding route to Celtic and adapting quickly to Scottish football.
“And to establish himself there with those physical requirements and to take that on, that is something very special,” he said.
The Germany manager was even more enthusiastic after seeing Baur make his debut.
“We have now really seen that he is a wonderful footballer,” Klopp said.
Klopp then drew a comparison with one of Europe’s leading midfielders, suggesting Baur reminded him of Paris Saint-Germain’s Vitinha.
“There is a player at a multiple Champions League winner who he constantly reminds me of. Not only visually, but also in terms of his overall qualities.”
Klopp did not name Vitinha, but the comparison pointed towards Baur’s technical ability, comfort in possession and capacity to operate under pressure.
For Baur, the challenge now is to turn a remarkable first appearance into a sustained international career. His rise from Paderborn to Celtic and then Germany has happened rapidly, but Klopp has already shown that he is prepared to reward players who fit his approach.
The midfielder could have another opportunity when Germany face Greece in Thessaloniki on Sunday, with Klopp looking to build on the performance that finally delivered his first win.