The German national football team travels to Greece for its fourth UEFA Nations League fixture without Serge Gnabry, who has returned to Munich after leading the side as captain for the first time against Serbia. The 31-year-old Bayern Munich forward departed the team’s training camp in Herzogenaurach on Friday afternoon, as Sport Bild reported.
Squad Limitations Force Gnabry Return Ahead of Thessaloniki Trip
Under UEFA regulations, head coach Jürgen Klopp can select a maximum of 23 players for the matchday squad. Gnabry featured in all three of Germany’s opening Nations League fixtures under Klopp, a workload that culminated in his captaincy debut during Thursday’s 2-0 victory over Serbia in Munich.
“Als Kapitän aufzulaufen, ist etwas, auf das ich sehr stolz bin – ein wunderbares Gefühl und dann noch mit dem Sieg belohnt,” Gnabry told Sport Bild regarding his milestone appearance. “Das macht den Tag noch ein bisschen süßer. Es ist wichtig, Siege einzufahren, die einem Selbstvertrauen geben. Wir sind mitten in einem Prozess. Jeder Sieg hilft dabei, diesen zu beschleunigen.”
Tactical Alternatives for the Right Flank and Captain’s Armband
With Gnabry back in Bavaria, Klopp must configure his attacking lineup for Sunday’s fixture against the group leaders at Toumba Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 20.45 Uhr, with live broadcast coverage provided by RTL. Club teammate Lennart Karl stands as a direct option to fill the vacancy on the right wing. The 18-year-old did not feature against Serbia and enters the traveling party with fresh legs.
In the leadership hierarchy, Florian Wirtz emerges as the primary candidate to wear the captain’s armband from the opening whistle. The 23-year-old has earned 47 caps for Germany and assumed leadership duties on the pitch in Munich after Gnabry was substituted on Thursday. Wirtz contributed a goal and an assist in the win over Serbia, drawing praise from his national coach.
“Er sprühte vor Spielfreude und hat bretthart gearbeitet,” Klopp said of Wirtz in comments reported by Sport Bild. “Das war außergewöhnlich, er hat ein tolles Spiel gemacht. Unser Spiel passt zu Flo Wirtz. Ich weiß gar nicht, was Flo alles richtig machen muss, damit alle happy sind.”
Final Training in Franconia Precedes Departure to Greece
The German delegation holds its final training session in Franconia on Saturday before boarding the flight to Thessaloniki. Klopp maintains that tactical consistency takes priority over individual player availability as the team plays the group stage.
“Flo Wirtz braucht nicht bestimmte Spieler, mit denen er zusammenspielen muss,” Klopp noted to Sport Bild. “Wir können in unterschiedlichsten Konstellationen eine bestimmte Art Fußball spielen. Unser Fußball muss konstant bleiben. Die Aufstellung kann es nicht, da sich auch immer mal wieder Spieler verletzen.”
Germany enters Sunday’s match against group leaders Greece in the current Nations League standings.
