Belgrade was supposed to be a trap. Instead it became a coronation for a 22-year-old who had waited two years for this night, as Germany beat Serbia 3-1, Brajan Gruda scoring five minutes after half-time on his senior debut to keep Jürgen Klopp's side in the Nations League quarter-final hunt.
Germany struck twice inside the opening 14 minutes at the Rajko Mitić Stadium and never truly let Serbia back in, even after Srđan Babić briefly threatened a comeback. The hosts finished with nine men, remain without a point after five games and are relegated from the top tier. Reuters confirmed the final score in Group A2, where the Netherlands' 7-0 demolition of Greece on the same night leaves three teams fighting for two quarter-final places on Monday.
Two goals in 14 minutes kill the contest
The opener arrived after just three minutes. Maximilian Mittelstädt's corner was turned goalward by Kai Havertz and Babić could only deflect the header into his own net. Eleven minutes later Florian Wirtz, a scorer in the reverse fixture too, doubled the lead with a clever chipped finish over Vanja Milinković-Savić, as UEFA reported in its Matchday 5 round-up.
Then came the moment of the night. Gruda, the RB Leipzig winger on loan from Brighton, had been in a Germany squad as long ago as Euro 2024 without playing, and injury wrecked a planned debut in September. At the third attempt, wearing the shirt in a competitive game at last, he cut in and drove a fine solo goal low into the net on 50 minutes. Klopp, who gave his debutant special praise afterwards, could not resist a joke at the expense of the man Gruda tormented, telling reporters via Bulinews: "The poor Serbian left-back today. He is an exceptional player. His first goal in his first international appearance — that's a pretty good record, isn't it?"
Gruda arrived in Belgrade in form, having set up two goals in Leipzig's 5-2 win over Augsburg last weekend, and this was the same direct, fearless running on a bigger stage.
Babić scores at both ends as Serbia lose their heads
Babić atoned for his own goal on 56 minutes, scrambling in a finish after Marc-André ter Stegen parried a shot, and for a few minutes Serbia believed. The belief died in ill-discipline. Substitute Vanja Dragojević was sent off on 76 minutes after a VAR review upgraded his yellow card for planting a boot on Joshua Kimmich, and fellow half-time introduction Andrija Živković followed on 89 minutes for dissent. Nine men, no points from five matches, and relegation confirmed — a brutal campaign ends with a trip to Greece on Monday.
Monday in Berlin is now a straight shoot-out
The standings set up a final day worth watching. The Netherlands top Group A2 on 11 points after their record-equalling rout, covered in our report on Netherlands 7-0 Greece, with Greece and Germany level on eight. Germany host the Dutch in Berlin on Monday knowing a win puts them through, while Greece host Serbia. Klopp framed it plainly: "We have it in our own hands to reach the next round on Monday. That was our goal. We have to get used to the fact that we are really good, or can be really good."
Beyond the Final Whistle: Results like this are why Klopp trusted a debutant in Belgrade instead of playing safe. Germany did not just win a group game — they found a new weapon. Gruda's goal was no debutant's cameo; it was a statement from a player who has forced his way from Leipzig's right wing into Germany's plans in a week. If he does anything like it against the Dutch on Monday, the quarter-final will not be the end of his story this season.
Was Gruda your man of the match in Belgrade, or did Wirtz run the show? Let us know in the comments.
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