Germany host Serbia at the Allianz Arena on 1 October, with a 20:45 kick-off setting the stage for a Nations League night in which the home side’s experimental new cycle faces a Serbian team built around the attacking partnership of Luka Jovic and Dusan Tadic.
Key takeaways
- Germany will start Nick Woltemade as their central attacking reference, supported by Florian Wirtz and Serge Gnabry.
- Serbia’s front two will be Jovic and veteran playmaker Tadic as the visitors pursue an upset.
- Espen Eskas has been appointed referee, while Tiago Martins will oversee VAR duties.
- Germany’s XI includes Urbig, Anton, Thiaw, Mittelstädt, Pavlovic and Wirtz.
- Serbia arrive with Petrovic in goal and a back line featuring Nedeljkovic, Erakovic, Gudelj and Babic.
Germany test new combinations at home
Germany’s latest phase has brought considerable experimentation, but this fixture offers a meaningful examination of the new look. Urbig starts in goal behind a defence of Treu, Anton, Thiaw and Mittelstädt.
Bischof and Pavlovic will operate in midfield alongside Wirtz, whose combination play and capacity to arrive from deep make him one of Germany’s principal creative threats. The Liverpool player has also taken on greater responsibility with the national side.
Scherhant and Gnabry flank Woltemade in attack, with the latter entrusted to lead the line on a night when Germany will seek to turn home advantage into three points.
Other Germany players named in the match material are Dahmen, Atubolu, Jeltsch, Engelhardt, El Mala, Burkardt, Baur, Karl, Baku, Conté, Raum and Janelt.
Serbia put their faith in Jovic and Tadic
Serbia travel to Munich aware of the scale of the task, but intend to attack the occasion rather than simply contain Germany. Petrovic starts behind Nedeljkovic, Erakovic, Gudelj and Babic, while Zivkovic, Maksimovic, Dzodic and Kostic form the midfield unit.
Jovic and Tadic carry the visitors’ main threat. Tadic remains one of Serbia’s senior figures, valued for his first touch, ability to beat an opponent and eye for goal. Alongside him, Jovic gives Serbia a direct focal point as they attempt to produce the surprise result.
Stankovic, Milinkovic-Savic, Pavlovic, Mimovic, Stankovic, Joveljic, Simic, Terzic, Cvetkovic, Kostov, Samardzic and Lukic are also among the Serbia players named for the occasion.
Eskas will take charge on the pitch, with Martins assigned to the video operation, as Germany and Serbia meet under the Allianz Arena lights.
