Jurgen Klopp calls for time with Germany while Xavi satisfied with Netherlands start
Just two matches into his reign as manager of the German national team and it is already clear the size of the challenge facing Jurgen Klopp. Having come away from his opening game against the Netherlands in Amsterdam with a respectable 1-1 draw – where the Dutch needed Cody Gakpo's stoppage-time volley to level Felix Nmecha's first-half goal – Germany then fell to a historic home defeat against…
Two matches into his tenure as Germany's national team manager, Jurgen Klopp faces a daunting challenge. After a 1-1 draw with the Netherlands, where a stoppage-time volley by Cody Gakpo equalized Felix Nmecha's goal, Germany suffered a historic home defeat to Greece in Augsburg. A deflected shot from Dimitrios Kourbelis secured Greece's first victory over Germany at the 11th attempt, leaving Klopp with one point from two Nations League Group A2 games.
Klopp acknowledged that the result wasn't great, but it was part of the process. The team's line-up, structure, and changes were all his responsibility, and while he could have lived with a significant margin of victory, a loss he could not accept. Klopp emphasized that they needed routines, training, and time to develop a winning style.
Germany's possession was high at 76%, but Greece only managed one shot on target. When Klopp sends out the team, they listen. For the upcoming games against Serbia in Munich and Greece, Klopp will turn to the remaining 44-man squad, which includes 16 uncapped players. Klopp insisted that the plan was to gather as much information as possible during these two and a half weeks.
Germany's sporting director, Rudi Voller, confirmed that Klopp would not repeat the squad experiment for November's Nations League fixtures in Serbia and at home to the Dutch.
In contrast, Xavi Hernandez, the coach of the Netherlands, starts his third game in charge with four points from two matches. Xavi, a former great Spanish midfielder and Barcelona legend, had less experience in his coaching career compared to Klopp. However, his seven years in La Masia, Barcelona's renowned academy, prepared him well for the role.
Xavi was attracted to the opportunity to manage the Netherlands, saying it felt like going to the 'university of football.' His primary goal is to help the players and enjoy the process, with winning as a secondary objective. After a draw against Germany at Ajax's Johan Cruyff Arena, Xavi's side went on to defeat Serbia 2-1, with Mexx Meerdink scoring both Dutch goals.
Xavi acknowledged that they need to press better and move the ball more quickly, but he expressed satisfaction with the players' comfort with the structure they are playing in. The Netherlands will face Greece in Thessaloniki on Thursday, aiming to improve their performance.
Written by urgent.news from The National UAE's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
