Joshua Kimmich Urges Quick Progress as Germany Struggle Under Jurgen Klopp in Loss to Greece

Joshua Kimmich called for swift tactical progress following Germany’s surprising 1-0 loss to Greece in the UEFA Nations League. The match marked Jurgen Klopp's home debut as Germany's head coach, but instead of a confident display, the team appeared unsettled and struggled to adapt to Klopp’s intense playing style.

Kimmich Reflects on Germany’s Transitional Phase

The Bayern Munich midfielder was frank about the challenges facing the national team after the unexpected defeat at the WWK Arena. Intended to highlight Germany’s development under Klopp, the match revealed a side lacking fluidity and offensive creativity against a well-organized Greek defense. Kimmich acknowledged the difficulty in adjusting to a new tactical framework but stressed that the players must take ownership of their performance.

“We need to improve in every area. We need to understand the coach’s ideas even better. I think what he’s suggesting is very good and will help us. Now it’s up to us to implement it. He’s very clear about what he wants,” Kimmich told ARD.

Tactical Issues and Lack of Creativity Hinder Germany

Despite high hopes for Klopp’s debut at home, the team failed to break through Greece’s deep defensive setup. The match’s only goal came from a deflected shot by Dimitrios Kourbelis, which goalkeeper Alexander Nubel could not stop. Kimmich was unfortunate to have inadvertently altered the ball’s path.

“It certainly wasn’t a good performance from us. It’s unfortunate that we lost it late on; I don’t think that was necessary. We didn’t create many scoring chances and struggled against their deep defensive line. The goalkeeper also made one or two good saves. With a bit of luck, we could have scored, but overall, we were too static and lacked creativity. We didn’t move enough and didn’t come up with enough ideas. A 0-0 draw would have been deserved, so losing it is very unfortunate,” Kimmich explained.

Moving Away from Past Failures Under Nagelsmann

While the defensive difficulties reminded some of Germany’s disappointing World Cup exit under Julian Nagelsmann, Kimmich rejected the notion that the team was making the same mistakes. He emphasized that Klopp’s philosophy differs fundamentally, even if the current results don’t yet show progress.

“I wouldn’t say that. It’s a different way of playing. I don’t think we had that many turnovers and got caught on the counter-attack that often. The opponent sat very deep and relied more on long balls. Nevertheless, we weren’t creative enough as a team going forward,” said Kimmich.

Kimmich to Miss Upcoming Matches

Looking ahead, Kimmich will be absent from Germany’s upcoming matches against Serbia and the return leg in Greece. Klopp plans to rotate the squad and assess other talents, leaving a leadership gap that senior players will need to fill. Meanwhile, Kimmich will concentrate on his club duties as his teammates try to secure the first victory under Klopp without him.

• UEFA Nations League A - Germany vs Serbia: 1 Oct 2026, 21:45
• UEFA Nations League A - Greece vs Germany: 1 Oct 2026, 21:45
• Netherlands vs Germany: Date and time TBA