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Former Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp is following the World Cup with great enthusiasm and is speaking openly about it in his characteristic style.
In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, he revealed that he liked almost everything he had seen so far, from the atmosphere to the quality of the football, but also highlighted a few things he criticised.
"The impressions are very positive. I started in Mexico and it was incredible. I went to the stadium six hours before the match and there was a continuous line of people coming out of the centre. That animalistic, contagious enthusiasm, a unique atmosphere... And then the same thing in Dallas and Houston. Maybe with less intensity, but the atmosphere was extraordinary wherever I was," Klopp said initially and praised what he saw on the pitch.
"The same goes for football, the level is first-class. I love this championship. I have to say that I haven't seen all the matches, but I have seen a lot of them. You can see the quality in each one, which wasn't always the case. In world championships, the game was often limited by tactics or the result. Here I see a great desire to compete, to play and to score goals. There is no calculation. The average level seems very high to me, above my expectations."
Asked about the favorite for the title, Klopp had no doubts about the national team he thinks will win.
"I say Germany. So far, a convincing victory, then another, but above all, substitutions that work. That's how you build a team, that's how you win competitions like this. The defensive phase can be improved, but they are on the right track ," said Klopp.
"Let's say that serious football will start from the 1/8 stage and I don't see much room for surprises. Only the best of the best will remain from the quarter-finals. The big teams and the big players have done well so far. And those who drew, like Portugal, Brazil or England, shouldn't worry. Nobody wins the World Cup by winning all their matches, and it's better to start slowly and get into the rhythm," he added.
Klopp also listed other surprise favorites besides the big teams.
"I believe that all the favorites will be in the quarter-finals, plus those nations that have raised the standard. I will mention two names, Norway, which has an extraordinary generation and team, and Japan," concluded the German coach.
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