Joshua Kimmich Urges Quick Improvement as Germany Falters in Klopp’s First Home Match Against Greece

Joshua Kimmich has urged his teammates to accelerate their tactical development following Germany’s unexpected 1-0 defeat against Greece in the UEFA Nations League. The result highlights the challenges the team faces adapting to the intense style brought by new coach Jurgen Klopp.

Kimmich Reflects on Germany’s Difficult Transition

After a historic loss at the WWK Arena, Kimmich gave a candid view of Germany’s current situation. Rather than showcasing progress under Klopp, the team appeared disconnected and lacked the inventiveness to break down Greece’s resilient defense. The Bayern Munich midfielder pointed out that the squad is still adjusting to a major tactical shift and stressed the players must take responsibility for their inefficiency in attack.

“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.

Struggles with Creativity and Tactics

Despite high hopes for Klopp’s first home match, Germany looked static and uninspired against a deeply defensive Greek side. The only goal came from a deflected strike by Dimitrios Kourbelis, which caught goalkeeper Alexander Nubel off guard—a deflection Kimmich himself inadvertently caused.

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

Differences from the Nagelsmann Era

Some saw echoes of Germany’s disappointing World Cup exit under Julian Nagelsmann in their difficulty breaking down a deep defense. Kimmich disagreed with any suggestion the same mistakes were happening again, emphasizing that Klopp’s approach is distinct, even if results aren’t yet visible.

“I wouldn’t say that. It’s a different style of play. We didn’t have as many turnovers or get caught on counters often. The opponent sat deep and relied on long balls. Still, our creativity going forward was lacking as a team,” he said.

Kimmich to Miss Upcoming Matches

Kimmich will miss Germany’s next fixtures against Serbia and the return match in Greece. Klopp is rotating the squad and giving other players opportunities, leaving a leadership gap that senior members will need to fill. Meanwhile, Kimmich will focus on club duties as his teammates aim for the first victory under Klopp without him.

• UEFA Nations League A
• Germany 1 - 0 Greece (WWK Arena)
• Next matches:
• Germany vs Serbia – 1 Oct 2026, 21:45
• Greece vs Germany – 1 Oct 2026, 21:45
• Netherlands upcoming fixture