Joshua Kimmich Urges Quick Progress as Germany Falter in Jurgen Klopp's Tactical Debut

Joshua Kimmich has urged his teammates to advance quickly after Germany suffered a surprising 1-0 defeat to Greece in the UEFA Nations League. The match marked Jurgen Klopp's home debut as national team coach, but the side struggled to fully embrace his intense tactical approach.

Kimmich Reflects on Germany's Transitional Phase

Following the unexpected loss at the WWK Arena, Kimmich was straightforward about the team's current challenges. Intended as a showcase of progress under Klopp, the game instead revealed a squad that appeared disconnected and lacked the creative spark needed to penetrate Greece’s tough defense. The Bayern Munich midfielder acknowledged the difficulties of adapting to a new tactical system, while stressing the players' responsibility to sharpen their attacking play.

"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

Despite high hopes for Klopp's debut at home, Germany appeared disjointed and failed to find the clinical touch necessary to overcome Greece’s defensive setup. The only goal came from a deflected shot by Dimitrios Kourbelis, which caught goalkeeper Alexander Nubel off guard. Kimmich described the own deflection as an unfortunate moment for him personally.

"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.

Distinguishing Klopp's Approach from Previous Tactics

Memories of the frustrating World Cup exit under former coach Julian Nagelsmann surfaced due to Germany’s struggles against a packed defense. Still, Kimmich dismissed comparisons, insisting Klopp’s philosophy differs fundamentally despite the disappointing scoreboard.

"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," he said.

Kimmich to Miss Upcoming Fixtures

Joshua Kimmich will be absent from Germany’s next matches against Serbia and the return leg versus Greece, as Klopp rotates his squad and tests other options. This leaves a leadership gap for senior players to fill while the team looks to recover from the setback. Meanwhile, Kimmich will focus on his club commitments as his international teammates aim for the first win under Klopp without him.

• UEFA Nations League A
• Germany (GER) vs Serbia (SER): 1 Oct 2026, 21:45
• Greece (GRE) vs Germany (GER): 1 Oct 2026, 21:45
• Netherlands (NED)