Greece stuns Germany to hand Klopp defeat at home
Greece scored a 74th-minute winner through Dimitris Kourbelis to stun host Germany 1-0 in their UEFA Nations League Group A2 clash on Monday (AEST), sending the visitors top of the group and spoiling coach Jurgen Klopp's home debut as Germany coach.
It was the first ever victory for the Greeks in 11 matches against Germany, and they now lead their group on six points from two matches. Germany has just one point after its opening draw with Netherlands.
The hosts were in control for most of the game and had close to 80 per cent possession in the first half alone but were ultimately punished for sloppy defending, especially in the second half, which gave the Greeks space to attack.
Klopp, who took over in July after Germany's early exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, has now failed to win either of his two matches in charge after a 1-1 draw against the Dutch in Amsterdam last week.
Despite enjoying a dominant first half it was only after it upped the tempo and started pressing higher that Germany carved out scoring chances.
Felix Nmecha fired wide in the 54th, a minute after Greece keeper Konstantinos Tzolakis had palmed a Joshua Kimmich free-kick over the bar.
The Greeks, however, almost scored in the 66th after Kimmich lost possession in his own half but substitute Fotis Ioannidis fired just wide of the post.
They did it better in the 74th with Kourbelis's deflected low drive that gave them the win to make it two victories in a row after their last-gasp 2-1 win over Serbia last week.
