Germany played to a 0–0 draw against Greece in Thessaloniki on Sunday evening, leaving the team with five points after four matches in the Nations League. The fixture at the Toumba Stadium featured aggressive counter-pressing under manager Jürgen Klopp, though a first-half goal by Jonathan Burkardt was overturned following a video review.
Stuttgart and Thessaloniki Shape the Group Standings
The scoreless result in Greece follows a 2–0 victory over Serbia and leaves Germany third in their group with five points, according to match reports. The Netherlands sit at the top of the group with an identical point total after defeating Serbia 2–1 in a parallel fixture. Had Germany lost in Greece, securing first place in the group would have been mathematically impossible at this stage of the competition.
Manager Jürgen Klopp adjusted his lineup after the win against Serbia, making three changes. David Raum replaced Maximilian Mittelstädt at left-back, Lennart Karl stepped in for the departed Serge Gnabry, and Jonathan Burkardt started in place of Nick Woltemade. For the first time, Klopp did not name a single debutant in his starting eleven, relying instead on a central midfield core of Aleksandar Pavlović, Tom Bischof, and Florian Wirtz.
Tactical Execution and Overturned Goals in Thessaloniki
The match began with an immediate defensive scare for the visitors in the second minute. Kostas Tzimikas delivered a cross that allowed Giorgos Masouras to slip behind David Raum, but goalkeeper Jonas Urbig stopped the chance with a quick reflex save on the goal line. Germany responded by dominating possession and dictating the tempo through the center of the pitch.
In the 32nd minute, Jonathan Burkardt turned in a cross from Derry Scherhant after a sharp run down the left wing. While the team celebrated on the pitch, referee Clément Turpin consulted the video assistant referee monitor and ruled that Tom Bischof had committed a handball during a prior midfield challenge. The goal was disallowed, keeping the score level.
Throughout the match, Germany’s defensive structure pinned the Greek side deep in their own half. The tactical approach prioritized high-intensity counter-pressing, preventing long clearances from relieving pressure. Florian Wirtz captained the side and created several scoring opportunities, while Pavlović and Bischof maintained control of possession in the middle third.
Klopp Manages Squad for November Fixtures
Captain Joshua Kimmich remained absent from the squad by prior agreement, a topic Klopp addressed regarding his midfield plans for November fixtures. I give up on the subject. Officially. Already now,
Klopp said regarding ongoing questions.
As the match progressed into the second half, Greece introduced Borussia Dortmund youngster Konstantinos Karetsas, but the tactical balance remained unchanged. Malick Thiaw missed a header from a Wirtz free-kick in the 59th minute, and Scherhant shot wide in the 65th minute before Klopp introduced fresh legs with the substitutions of Nick Woltemade and Said El Mala.
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