Jürgen Klopp's first international window ended with a goalless whimper in Thessaloniki as Germany were held 0-0 by a stubborn Greece, leaving the former Liverpool manager with just one win from his first four games in charge.
Germany dominate, but toothless
Germany controlled 70.1% of the possession at the Toumba Stadium and unleashed 21 shots on the Greek goal, yet translated that dominance into only four efforts on target and a combined 1.38 expected goals, according to FotMob. Greece, by contrast, managed five attempts all evening — but Konstantinos Tzolakis kept his sheet clean.
Disallowed goal sums up frustrating night
Jonathan Burkardt thought he had broken the deadlock in the 32nd minute, sparking celebrations among the travelling supporters. But referee Clément Turpin intervened with a VAR review and ruled it out for a handball by Tom Bischof in the build-up. It was one of those nights for Klopp's men: lots of territory, plenty of intent, no reward.
Klopp hails "top-notch" display despite result
Remarkably, Klopp was content with what he saw, praising a "top-notch performance" in comments picked up by VAVEL. "I didn't think it would be possible to play like that in the first half after just a week," he said, insisting the play and movement were outstanding even if the structure became less clear after the hour mark.
Klopp was even more effusive about the opposition, admitting he would "never want to play against Greece again" after Ivan Jovanović's disciplined side took four points off Germany across the window — including the 1-0 defeat in Augsburg that was Germany's first loss to Greece in eleven meetings.
One win from four: the record so far
It has been a stuttering start by any measure. Germany opened the window with a 1-1 draw away to the Netherlands, then slumped to that shock 1-0 home defeat by Greece. The high point was the 2-0 win over Serbia in Munich — Klopp's first win at the third attempt — but Sunday's blank in Thessaloniki means the new era has yielded just five points from a possible twelve.
That leaves Germany third in Group A2, three points behind both Greece and the Netherlands, who are level on eight points apiece. Quarter-final qualification is now a possibility rather than a probability, with the window pausing until November.
The verdict: rock'n'roll on hold
Beyond the Final Whistle verdict: there were flashes of Kloppball — intensity, pressing, control — but no cutting edge in either box. The Nations League was never going to define his tenure, yet one win from four, a first-ever home loss to Greece and a goalless night in Thessaloniki is not the start Germany hired him for. November's return fixtures will tell us much more about whether this new era has any rhythm.
Was this just new-coach growing pains — or is Klopp's Germany already in trouble? Let us know in the comments.
