The Sports Guru
Germany had 16 shots and three-quarters of the possession against Greece and still lost - a result that raises real questions about Jurgen Klopp's start as head coach. This article explains how a single deflected goal undid Germany's dominance, and what the defeat means for Klopp's winless run and Germany's position in their Nations League group.
At Augsburg's WWK Arena on Sunday, Germany finished with 730 passes, 16 shots and 75.8% of the ball - and still walked away beaten. Dimitrios Kourbelis's 74th-minute strike, deflected in via Joshua Kimmich, gave Greece a 0-1 win, leaving Jurgen Klopp still searching for a first victory as Germany head coach after two games in charge, and handing Greece a result that had eluded them in ten previous attempts against the Germans.
A Deflection Settles It
The first half in Augsburg produced no goals. Ranked 41st in the world to Germany's 12th, Greece broke through when Dimitrios Kourbelis struck from outside the penalty area in the 74th minute; the ball took a touch off Joshua Kimmich and beat goalkeeper Alexander Nübel. From there, Konstantinos Tzolakis had only one goal to defend, and Greece held on in front of 28,945 fans. Referee Chris Kavanagh took charge as Klopp, working with a heavily rotated side, turned to substitute Florian Wirtz in the 65th minute in a bid to find an equaliser that never came.
Control Without a Cutting Edge
The scoreline undersells how one-sided the match was. Germany produced 16 shots to Greece's 8, with 5 on target against Greece's single shot on target - the one that mattered. Nübel finished the game without needing a save; Tzolakis, at the other end, made 5. Germany also edged the corner count, 8 to Greece's 2, and out-passed their opponents heavily, completing 730 passes at 91.5% accuracy to Greece's 228 at 73.2%. None of the control produced a second look at the scoreline.
That gap between territorial control and ruthlessness is the story of the afternoon. A side building trust in a new manager can absorb a difficult 90 minutes if the chances eventually go in. Germany's did not, and Greece's single meaningful opportunity was enough.
History Made In Reverse
Sunday ended a run of ten previous meetings in which Greece had never beaten Germany - seven losses and three draws. Beating a side ranked 12th in the world now stands as Greece's best result by ranking since they defeated England, then ranked fourth, at Wembley in 2024. The win also lifted Greece back to the top of Nations League Group 2 - they had already beaten Serbia on Thursday - and leaves them well placed for a quarter-final spot.
Klopp's Process, Twice Interrupted
Klopp took the job in July on a four-year contract, stepping in after Julian Nagelsmann resigned in the wake of Germany's last-32 World Cup exit to Paraguay. At 59, he is still only two matches into the role - Thursday's 1-1 draw with the Netherlands preceded Sunday's defeat. Including their World Cup form, Germany have not won since beating Ivory Coast in the group stage this past summer, a stretch that has also taken in a draw with Paraguay and a loss to Ecuador.
Klopp was candid afterwards. "I could have lived with us not winning but you cannot lose such a game," he said, before framing the result within a squad still finding its shape: "We have been together for a week now, all mixed together, and that needs time." He added: "The result is not cool but it is absolutely part of the process."
The 75.8% possession share and 16 shots suggest Germany's problem under Klopp is not control - it is conversion. Greece needed one chance and took it; Germany created five clear sights of goal and missed all of them. That is a finishing issue as much as a tactical one, and it is not the kind of thing a new head coach can fix inside a single week together.
What It Means Next
Germany occupy third place in Group 2 with 1 point from their two games, trailing Greece's 6 and the Netherlands' 4; Serbia are bottom without a point. A relegation play-off place, rather than a quarter-final berth, is currently the more realistic outcome for Klopp's side unless the finishing improves sharply. Greece, by contrast, arrive at their next fixtures with genuine momentum and a result to point to that no Greek side had managed against Germany before.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dimitrios Kourbelis netted in the 74th minute when his effort took a touch off Joshua Kimmich and beat goalkeeper Alexander Nübel.
Yes. Greece had never beaten Germany in ten previous meetings before Sunday, recording seven losses and three draws.
Klopp is winless in his first two matches in charge - a 1-1 draw with the Netherlands followed by the 0-1 loss to Greece.
Germany are third in Group 2 with 1 point from two games, behind Greece on 6 points and the Netherlands on 4.
Research: This article uses the archived evidence supplied for this story. Story inspiration: BBC Sport's original report.