Jürgen Klopp earned his first win as Germany coach at the third attempt as Tom Bischof and Florian Wirtz scored in a dominant 2-0 UEFA Nations League victory over Serbia at the Allianz Arena. The result lifts Germany to four points in League A Group 2 and leaves Serbia still pointless after three matches.
Match facts
- Result: Germany 2-0 Serbia (half-time 1-0)
- Competition: UEFA Nations League A, Group 2, Matchday 3
- Venue: Allianz Arena, Munich
- Scorers: Germany - Bischof 39', Wirtz 61'; Serbia - None
- Red cards: None
- Attendance: 68,121
- Next: Germany v Greece, Sunday 4 October; Serbia next in Group 2
How the match unfolded
Klopp rotated heavily after a draw with the Netherlands and the shock home loss to Greece, naming a fresh starting XI that included debuts for Bayern Munich goalkeeper Jonas Urbig and Hertha Berlin winger Derry Scherhant. Serge Gnabry captained the side with Joshua Kimmich among those released after the earlier fixtures.
Germany controlled the opening exchanges. Aleksandar Pavlović curled an early effort just wide, Nick Woltemade headed off target in the 11th minute, and Gnabry dragged wide after a through ball from Wirtz. Serbia sat deep and struggled for territory; Đorđe Petrović twice denied Gnabry and Wirtz with sharp saves as the hosts piled up shots.
Serbia's rare threat almost produced a shock lead when Kosta Nedeljković mistimed a sliding connection on a ball across the Germany box. That miss proved costly. Six minutes before half-time, Wirtz worked space in a crowded area and struck the post; Bischof reacted first and smashed the rebound into the roof of the net for his first senior international goal, on his second cap, in front of his club stadium.
Gnabry was withdrawn at the break for Cologne forward Saïd El Mala, who made his Germany debut. The pattern continued: Bischof forced Petrović to tip over, El Mala saw a deflected shot fly wide, and Woltemade blazed over from close range after Philipp Treu's cross. Germany finally doubled the lead in the 61st minute. Maximilian Mittelstädt drove forward from left-back and found Wirtz; the Liverpool forward dragged the ball past Srđan Babić and finished into the far corner.
Serbia's only shot of the night came in the 78th minute, a long-range effort from Filip Kostić that Urbig handled comfortably. Late substitutes included Celtic midfielder Mika Baur, who became the 1,000th player to win a men's senior Germany cap when he replaced Bischof.
What it means
Germany move to third in Group 2 on four points, behind Greece (seven) and the Netherlands (five) after those sides drew 2-2 in Thessaloniki. Serbia remain bottom on zero points after three defeats — including the earlier loss to the Netherlands — and face a growing relegation fight from League A.
For Klopp, the night ended a winless start of two matches and delivered the first Germany victory since the World Cup round-of-32 exit to Paraguay. Wirtz, who also created a match-high six chances and took the armband later in the game, was the standout in a performance UEFA and Opta data framed as heavily one-sided (32 shots to one).
What happens next
Germany travel to face Greece on Sunday looking for revenge after the Augsburg defeat. Serbia continue their Group 2 campaign still searching for a first point of the 2026–27 Nations League.