Germany had 21 shots in Thessaloniki, and Greece still took four points off Klopp’s side in a week
Jonathan Burkardt had a goal ruled out by VAR and Konstantinos Tzolakis saved everything else, as unbeaten Greece drew 0-0 with Germany to stay level with the Netherlands in Group A2.
Oct 5, 2026
Germany had 21 shots in Thessaloniki on Sunday night and did not score. Greece had five and did not score either, and that was enough for them. The 0-0 draw at the Toumba Stadium keeps Ivan Jovanovic’s side unbeaten in League A, level on eight points with the Netherlands, and leaves Jurgen Klopp with one win from his first four games as Germany coach.
Greece have now taken four points off Germany in a week. Before the 1-0 win in Augsburg on 27 September, they had never beaten them.
Urbig early, VAR in the first half
Greece nearly scored inside two minutes. Giorgos Masouras, in for the injured Christos Tzolis, got his head to a cross and Jonas Urbig made a fine save.
Germany then had the ball for most of the half. Derry Scherhant, David Raum and Florian Wirtz all tested Konstantinos Tzolakis, and on 32 minutes Jonathan Burkardt turned in a Scherhant cross. The celebrations did not last. After a long VAR check, the goal was ruled out for a handball in the build-up.
The numbers say Germany, the scoreline doesn’t
Germany finished with about 70 per cent of the ball and 45 touches in the Greek box. Only four of their 21 attempts were on target, and Tzolakis saved all four. The best late chance fell to Philipp Treu, who sent it over the bar from inside the box. Wirtz and Malick Thiaw also went close.
Greece were not just hanging on, though. With 14 minutes left, Masouras had a free header from close range and put it wide. That one could have won it. Konstantinos Mavropanos was outstanding at the back, with 12 clearances before he went off. Things got heated in the second half, and Jovanovic was booked for his reaction on the touchline.
Klopp sees progress
Klopp did not sound like a coach who had just dropped two more points. “I’m pleasantly surprised rather than disappointed,” he said. “I’m very satisfied because I know where we’ve come from.” He said he would not have believed his side could play a first half like that, and called the performance “top-notch in every respect” apart from the finishing.
He has a point about the football. But the table is less kind. Germany drew in Amsterdam, lost in Augsburg, beat Serbia in Munich and drew here, and five points from four games leaves them third, three behind both Greece and the Netherlands, who beat Serbia 2-1 in Eindhoven through Teun Koopmeiners and Joshua Zirkzee.
What is left in Group A2
Only the top two reach the quarter-finals, and third place means a relegation play-off. Germany go to Serbia on 13 November and host the Netherlands three days later. Greece have to go to the Netherlands first, then finish at home to Serbia.
I would still back Germany’s chances of creating enough to win both. Whether anyone finishes them is another matter, and Greece have already shown twice that they can live without the ball. Greece go into November in the stronger position. Even two German wins might not be enough for Klopp.