Germany are struggling in yet another tournament. The Nations League group stage began last week, where Germany drew 1-1 to Netherlands after a last-minute goal from Cody Gakpo. Now, Germany faced Greece at home and what was earlier thought to be an easy fixture for Die Mannschaft turned into a nightmare. The game featured one of the most lackluster, frustrating Germany sides seen lately.
Yes, the title of most lackluster performance has heavy competition considering the national team has been mediocre for a little less than ten (!!) years. But this truly is a new low.
Germany spent 90 minutes passing the ball to no avail, as Greece held them trapped, unable to make anything of the very ball they held onto the whole game. With 76% possession, all Germany did was progress the ball from midfield, waste an attacking chance and recycle. Recycling may be truly German, but it is better reserved for outside the pitch.
With that being said, here are the awards from Jürgen Klopp’s first home loss.
Jersey Swap: Dimitrios Kourbelis
Forget the goal Kourbelis scored. The 32-year-old had the most impressive defensive performance out of anyone on the pitch tonight. While every Greek player till that point mostly returned the possession back to the Germans, Kourbelis brought a much-needed pair of fresh legs and was willing to attack.
His job was simple — get the ball out of German possession and move out of the defensive block Greece created. He made seven crucial recoveries and played multiple long balls to evade pressure.
His goal too was the result of good positioning (and whatever Kimmich was doing there).
Greece brought on the right player at the right time and Germany could learn a thing or two. A defensive midfielder who can contest and win balls, retain the ball and get it past is only of that much use to a team who need the ball back like that. Kimmich played a solid game barring his involvement in the goal, but he was also not the player profile that Germany needed — they needed someone who could break past the defensive lines and find spaces to score from. Basically, Klopp will have to learn to play and adjust his game plan according to his problems.
The defenders had virtually no job in this game. Therefore the performances of Jonathan Tah and Yann Bisseck, though good, are not consequential enough to the game.
Bisseck was aggressive, fast and ready to step out to clear things — almost a bit too much on each of these aspects. In fact, his aggression resulted in an early yellow. He was playing a little too high up, but this too did not influence the result of the game. He gets the pick for Der Kaiser for a decent performance with good positioning and defensive stability. However, his need to overcorrect needs to be worked on.
Der Fussballgott: Felix Nmecha
Nmecha was the better of the midfield pairing tonight and he attempted to emulate his performance against Netherlands. He was trying to pick up rebounds and score off them — but looking at the scoreline, it’s evident he did not do that.
What Germany needed tonight was not a player who could hold possession — they had loads of it. The Greek plan was not to disrupt Germany’s possession — it was to trap them along with it. So while the ball kept rotating in the middle for almost the whole 90’, Nmecha was the one trying to purpose it vertically — carrying the ball forward. He was constantly just outside the box, trying to create attacking opportunities. But it was of almost no use.
He could get the ball to Bambasé Conté but the Hoffenheim attacker himself was in a tough position — being asked to play a very specific role in his debut game. A youngster with very little first team experience was expected to break past the low block, create attacking chances, and hopefully score or set someone else up to that job. And that did not go as planned.
You cannot entirely blame Nmecha for how things went in the final third, nor can you blame Conté for his game. But Germany somehow seems to get players whose weaknesses are augmented in each other’s presence. And that cost them the game.
Der Bomber: Karim Adeyemi
Adeyemi continues to disappoint, but as with every other player on this list, the least disappointing gets the award. He made direct runs into the box repeatedly, threatened Greece’s defensive prison and attempted to make something of the ball. But where Adeyemi went flat was in finishing.
Last game, Adeyemi did his best impression of Leroy Sané’s greatest hits and tonight was no different. Mediocre finishing, questionable decision making and just plain bad luck in some instances where the keeper managed to get on the right end of his shot. Tonight he was Germany’s most dangerous attacking option, yet also their most wasteful and ineffective one. However, in his defense, he at least managed to get the ball that far, and that cannot be said for the other contenders. Younes Ebnoutalib hardly had the ball, Bambasé Conté was incredibly disappointing, and Kevin Schade was near-absent.
What unlocks the Barcelona star’s full potential? That remains to be identified.
Meister of the Match: The final whistle
The final whistle will receive the man of the match award for saving us from more misery.
Germany’s biggest problems comes down to one question — what next?
Nmecha got the ball into the final third, now what next?
Adeyemi has broken past the Greek defense, now what next?
This German side has disappointed so far — what next?
These are questions — tough ones in fact, that Klopp will have to learn answers to, before Germany is eliminated from this tournament.
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