Germany left Thessaloniki with a point, but little sense of progress, after a goalless Nations League draw against Greece. Jürgen Klopp’s side owned the ball and filled the Greek half for long spells, yet a disallowed goal and a blunt second half meant the night ended without the response they had wanted after last week’s home defeat.
Key takeaways
- Germany drew 0-0 with Greece in Thessaloniki, one week after losing 1-0 to the same opponents in Augsburg.
- Klopp has collected five points from his opening four Nations League matches as Germany coach.
- Jonathan Burkardt had a first international goal ruled out after Tom Bischof was judged to have handled the ball earlier in the move.
- Greek goalkeeper Konstantinos Tsolakis made key first-half saves to deny Derry Scherhant and David Raum.
- Germany finished with 70% possession and 21 attempts, but only four shots were on target.
First-half control without a reward
Germany were nearly behind inside two minutes when Yorgos Masouras met a delivery with a header, only for Jonas Urbig to produce a sharp save. It was Greece’s biggest early warning, but Germany soon took command.
Klopp’s team moved the ball quickly, combined down the flanks and created openings through their constant rotation. Florian Wirtz was among the liveliest visitors, while Scherhant repeatedly threatened from wide areas and emerged as Germany’s standout performer.
Tsolakis kept Greece level with important stops from Scherhant in the 21st minute and Raum four minutes later. The breakthrough appeared to arrive on 32 minutes when Burkardt turned in a Scherhant cross for what would have been his first Germany goal.
Referee Clément Turpin, following a review with the French VAR team, cancelled the effort because Bischof had committed a handball in the build-up. The 1,400 travelling German supporters had briefly celebrated before the decision changed the mood, and Germany’s momentum faded with it.
Germany lose their edge after the interval
The second half lacked the rhythm and invention Germany had shown before the break. Scherhant dragged an effort too far across goal from a promising position in the 62nd minute, while Greece had their own opportunity when Masouras came close to finding a winner in the 77th.
Philipp Treu then missed from close range in the 86th minute, summing up a night when Germany could not convert territorial control into a decisive moment. Klopp made changes around the hour mark, introducing Woltemade and El-Mala, but neither substitute shifted the contest in Germany’s favour.
The draw leaves Germany third in their group, behind Greece and the Netherlands. Greece have built their position on a resilient defensive run, while Germany’s record under Klopp now stands at one win, two draws and one defeat: a 2-0 victory over Serbia, a 1-1 draw with the Netherlands, and the two meetings with Greece that have brought only one point.
