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 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 victory for Greece across 11 matches against Germany, and it now leads Group A2 with 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 they were ultimately punished for sloppy defending, especially in the second half, which gave Greece 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 Oranje in Amsterdam last week.
"I could have lived with us not winning but you cannot lose such a game," Klopp said after the defeat. "We have been together for a week now, all mixed together, and that needs time.
"The result is not cool but it is absolutely part of the process," he said.
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.
Greece, however, almost scored in the 66th after Kimmich lost possession in his own half but substitute Fotis Ioannidis fired just wide of the post.
It did it better in the 74th with Kourbelis's deflected low drive that gave it the win to make it two victories in a row after its last-gasp 2-1 win over Serbia last week.
Germany plays Serbia next in a match scheduled for Friday (AEST) before travelling to Greece three days later.
