Why Germany vs Serbia Is Jürgen Klopp's Biggest Early Test in the Nations League
Germany face Serbia in the Nations League with Jürgen Klopp still searching for his first win as national coach. This article covers the team news, likely lineups, head-to-head context and how to watch.
The stakes in Munich
Germany's meeting with Serbia at the Allianz Arena is more than a routine Group A2 fixture. Germany collected one point from their first two Nations League games, drawing 1-1 away to the Netherlands before losing 1-0 at home to Greece. Jürgen Klopp is still without a victory as coach. OneFootball notes he would become only the third Germany manager in history to fail to win any of his first three matches if that run continues.
Serbia are under pressure too. They sit bottom of League A, Group 2 after back-to-back 2-1 home defeats to Greece and the Netherlands. Both teams enter the third matchday needing points for different reasons; Germany need to arrest a slide that now stretches four matches without a win, while Serbia need their first points of the group stage.
The lineup picture is not settled
Injuries have shaped the selection debate. Jamal Musiala and Kai Havertz withdrew, and Nico Schlotterbeck was ruled out after an ankle ligament injury in training. Serbia's attack will not include Dušan Vlahović, who remains sidelined. That leaves both coaches with problems in decisive areas.
Reports disagree on Klopp's team. Get German Football News expects Bayern Munich goalkeeper Jonas Urbig to make his senior national team debut, with a back four of Ridle Baku, Waldemar Anton, Finn Jeltsch and David Raum. OneFootball's published probable line-up offers Noah Atubolu as the more likely option in goal and includes Malick Thiaw in defence. At the other end, the same publication has Jonathan Burkardt leading the line, while Get German Football News expects Nico Woltemade.
Bavarian Football Works adds another twist. Citing Bild and Sky Germany, it reports Serge Gnabry will start and captain the side, moving Lennart Karl to the bench. Gnabry, with 61 caps, is the most experienced player in the current squad. Nothing had been formally announced by the German federation at the time of writing, so the confirmed team may still differ.
A rivalry with one famous shock
Germany and Serbia have a short competitive history, but it includes one significant upset. At the 2010 World Cup, Serbia beat the Germans 1-0 in the group stage. Their most recent meeting, a friendly in March 2019, ended 1-1.
That history adds context rather than prediction. The current Serbia side have lost their last two matches by the same 2-1 scoreline, while Germany have struggled at the back. The game is scheduled for Thursday 1 October with a 19:45 UK kickoff. OneFootball's preview lists no scheduled TV broadcast for the match and gives Amazon Prime Video as a pay-per-view streaming option.
Klopp's early tenure has already been framed around results. A home game against a struggling Serbia gives Germany a clear chance to change that story, but only if the noise around the lineup translates into a coherent performance.