After 47 days, three matches, and a squad of 44 players, Jürgen Klopp has finally secured his first victory as head coach of the German men’s national football team. On Thursday night in Munich, Klopp’s side defeated Serbia 2-0 in the UEFA Nations League, avoiding the distinction of being the first German manager to fail to win any of his first three games in charge.
Klopp had caused some surprise by fielding two separate squads for the four-match international window. The more experienced group had previously managed only a fortunate draw against the Netherlands and suffered a shock defeat to Greece. Consequently, the task of securing a win fell to a younger, less renowned contingent.
Florian Wirtz, one of the few senior players included in the lineup, was instrumental in the victory. After hitting the post early in the game, Wirtz provided the assist for Bayern Munich’s Tom Bischof, who scored his first goal for Germany in just his second cap. Goalkeeper Jonas Urbig and winger Derry Scherhant also made their debuts, while Urbig remained untroubled in goal throughout the match.
“I’m really happy today,” Klopp told German broadcaster ZDF. “We were outstanding when defending and when we had the ball. We simply played wonderful football.”
The victory comes at a time of transition for German football. Following a series of tournament disappointments, there is a growing acceptance domestically and internationally that Germany is no longer among the sport’s elite tier. Pre-match, Klopp acknowledged this reality, stating, “We’re not the Bayern Munich of European football. We’re a team that needs to find its footing.”
Despite facing a limited Serbian side, the performance impressed the new manager. “I liked everything — the opening phase, the middle section, and the end. Our counter-pressing was off the charts,” Klopp said, praising the team’s ability to win the ball back collectively and take calculated risks.
Bischof described the atmosphere at the Allianz Arena as electric, saying it was “indescribable” to score on home turf. He joked that while his knees hurt from sliding in celebration, the pain did not matter. With Klopp’s extensive track record of success and a patient approach from the footballing public, Germany appears poised to rebuild under his leadership.
Depleted squad but still managed it? That’s quality coaching. Germany is in good hands with him.
Finally, Klopp gets a win. The defense looked solid for once. Good to see young talent stepping up.