Germany defeated Serbia 2–0 in Munich on Thursday night, delivering a tactical rebound in the UEFA Nations League that kept the national team level with Greece and the Netherlands in the group standings. Florian Wirtz scored the decisive second goal and set up the opener, earning the captain’s armband by the final whistle at the Munich arena in a performance that showcased the squad’s high-end potential under manager Jürgen Klopp.
Klopp and Kimmich spark lineup debate ahead of Munich fixture
The fixture arrived amid scrutiny over squad selection and a public exchange between manager Jürgen Klopp and regular captain Joshua Kimmich. Speaking on the broadcaster BR, Klopp addressed questions regarding Kimmich’s desire to feature across all four of the national team’s scheduled fixtures under the new coaching staff. “The more often you ask, the less likely you are to get what you want,” Klopp said, likening the player’s persistence to a child asking to stay up late.
With Kimmich absent from the starting lineup, Serge Gnabry stepped in to captain the side. Klopp deployed a 4-3-3 formation featuring Aleksandar Pavlović and Tom Bischof alongside Wirtz in the midfield trio. The adjustments aimed to rectify the offensive stagnation from Sunday’s 1–0 defeat against Greece in Athens.
Tactical shifts break down the Serbian defense
Germany seized control of possession early, generating significantly more scoring opportunities in the opening half-hour than during the entire ninety minutes against Greece. Pavlović and central defender Malick Thiaw exploited the half-spaces with high diagonal switches to debutant Derry Scherhant on the left wing. Despite cleaner ball progression, early efforts from Pavlović in the 8th minute and Bischof in the 25th minute missed the target.
Gnabry squandered the half’s clearest opening in the 19th minute. Following buildup play involving Wirtz and Nick Woltemade, Gnabry opted for a shot from close range rather than returning the ball to Woltemade, hitting the opposing goalkeeper directly. Serbia nearly capitalized on the missed chances moments later when defender Waldemar Anton misjudged a ball-oriented defensive assignment, allowing Filip Kostić to cross into the path of an onrushing Kosta Nedeljković, who failed to connect cleanly.
Wirtz secures victory with decisive goals
The deadlock broke in the 39th minute when Pavlović delivered a knee-high pass into the penalty area. Wirtz controlled the ball in a congested space, maneuvered past defenders, and fired a low shot off the post that deflected directly to Bischof, who drove a powerful strike into the net to make it 1–0.
Germany doubled its lead in the 61st minute. Left-back Maximilian Mittelstädt slid a low pass into the box, where Wirtz executed a sharp turn using the sole of his right foot to elude his marker before placing a right-footed shot past the goalkeeper. By the time Gnabry was substituted, Wirtz had assumed the captain’s armband, capping a performance that solidified the team’s standing in the group after Greece and the Netherlands played to a 2–2 draw.
