Jurgen Klopp didn't get off to the dream start he had hoped for in his tenure with the German national team after some late drama, but at least he didn’t lose. Now, on paper, the next task should be fairly easier, although Greece are not to be underestimated.
It looked as though Jurgen Klopp was set for a perfect start against the Netherlands, but a goal from his former Liverpool player Cody Gakpo in added time put a damper on the celebrations.
However, the goal was by no means undeserved, given that the Netherlands controlled the match and were the better side on the pitch despite the lack of goals. So it seems clear that Klopp will have his work cut out for him if he is to turn Germany into the team everyone expects them to be.
Greece are one of the newcomers to League A following their successful promotion and got off to a winning start with an impressive comeback against Serbia. In their case, they were the team that scored in added time.
This victory ended a poor run of five matches without a win, but it is hard to get excited about their chances in Germany, given they hadn't won away from home for a year and a half before beating Serbia.
How the bookies view it: They all back Germany to win at home
The bookmakers share this view and are unanimous that Die Nationalelf should win at home and move to the top of the group as favourites.
At the moment, you can back Germany at 2/5, whilst Greece are priced at 13/2. If you think Germany might draw for the second match in a row, you can back that outcome at 4/1.
Recent head-to-head: Die Nationalelf are undefeated in 10 H2Hs
Germany and Greece have played each other a total of 10 times since the 1960s, and it will come as no surprise that Die Nationalelf have never lost to this opponent.
There haven’t been many matches in recent years, apart from a single friendly in 2024, but the overall record shows seven wins for Germany and three draws.
Players to watch: Pavlidis has the tools to shock Germany
Felix Nmecha scored Germany’s only goal in their opening match, following an assist from Karim Adeyemi.
Looking at Klopp’s squad as a whole, Adeyemi is perhaps the player in the best form. The 24-year-old Barcelona forward has made a phenomenal start to the season, having already scored three goals and provided three assists for his club and national team in nine matches.
Kai Havertz has picked up an injury and will miss the remainder of the matches, so in the second match we should see Florian Wirtz or Jonathan Burkardt, who are fully capable of deciding the match in Germany’s favour.
On the other side is Benfica’s striker Vangelis Pavlidis, who is in the midst of yet another phenomenal season and will be the main threat in Greece’s line-up.
Probable line-ups
Germany: Ter Stegen, Brown, Schlotterbeck, Tah, Treu, Nmecha, Adeyemi, Kimmich, Wirtz, Schade, Burkardt
Greece: Tzolakis, Tsimikas, Retsos, Mavropanos, Vagiannidis, Karetsas, Zafeiris, Kourbelis, Tzolis, Douvikas, Pavlidis
Anything else catch the eye?
Jurgen Klopp has a lot of work ahead of him and, in my view, it is far too early to expect any sort of dominance, although they will give their all to win at home, especially following their World Cup failure.
Greece, however, have a squad full of players who perform at the very highest level, and it is more than possible that they could score a goal or even put Germany under pressure right up until the final whistle.
In my view, though, Die Nationalelf will leave their hearts on the pitch and secure at least a narrow victory.
GambleAware