Germany frustrated in Thessaloniki as Greece preserve unbeaten Nations League record
Germany’s frustrating start under Jurgen Klopp continued with a 0-0 draw against Greece in Thessaloniki, leaving the coach with just one victory from his first four matches in charge.
The result maintained Greece’s unbeaten record in Group A2 during their first UEFA Nations League campaign in the top division, with the hosts once again proving difficult opponents after their 1-0 victory in Augsburg a week earlier.
Match highlight
Despite surrendering a two-goal lead against the Netherlands in their previous match, Greece began confidently and nearly scored inside the opening minute.
Kostas Tsimikas delivered an excellent cross for Georgios Masouras, whose header forced Jonas Urbig into a fine save.
Germany soon established control. Florian Wirtz had a shot deflected over following a skilful run, before Derry Scherhant tested Konstantinos Tzolakis with a curling effort from outside the penalty area.
The Greek goalkeeper then kept out a powerful Tom Bischof strike, although his resistance appeared to have been broken in the 32nd minute.
Scherhant supplied Jonathan Burkardt to finish, but a VAR review identified a handball by Bischof in the build-up and the goal was disallowed.
Further chances fell to Scherhant and Wirtz before the interval, but neither could find the target as Greece reached half-time with their clean sheet intact.
Germany threatened again after the restart when Lennart Karl’s long-range curler drew another save from Tzolakis. Despite the visitors’ territorial pressure, however, it was the goalkeeper’s only save before the hour mark.
At the other end, Urbig comfortably gathered Konstantinos Mavropanos’ downward header from a corner.
The second half became increasingly fragmented, with fouls and stoppages preventing either side from developing sustained momentum.
Greece nevertheless created a promising opportunity with 15 minutes remaining when Manolis Saliakas picked out Masouras, who headed over the crossbar.
Germany had ended a four-match winless run by beating Serbia before this encounter, but their late attempts to build on that result lacked precision. Wirtz shot over before Philipp Treu also sent a half-volley too high.
The draw extended Germany’s sequence of away matches featuring no more than two goals to five, underlining their recent difficulty turning pressure into decisive attacking returns.
Greece have now lost only twice in 16 Nations League matches, although Ivan Jovanovic’s side have won just one of their past six home fixtures.
Germany remain third in the group, with work to do if they are to avoid missing the Nations League finals for the fourth time in five editions.
