Joshua Kimmich Urges Quick Progress After Germany's Surprise Loss to Greece in Klopp's Debut

Kimmich Calls for Rapid Change Following Germany's Defeat

Joshua Kimmich has insisted that the German national team needs to improve quickly after a disappointing 1-0 loss to Greece in the UEFA Nations League. The match, marking Jurgen Klopp's first home game as head coach, exposed difficulties adapting to his high-intensity style. The defeat leaves Germany searching for solutions amid this tactical transition.

Kimmich Reflects on Team's Current Phase

The Bayern Munich midfielder spoke candidly about Germany's struggles after their historic loss at the WWK Arena. Instead of showing clear progress under Klopp, the team appeared disconnected and lacked the creativity required to break down Greece's tough defense. Kimmich admitted that adjusting to Klopp’s new system is challenging but said the players must own their shortcomings, especially in attack.

"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.

Challenges with Tactics and Creativity

Despite high hopes for Klopp's debut, Germany looked disjointed and struggled to create chances against a deeply defensive Greek side. The only goal came from a deflected shot by Dimitrios Kourbelis that left goalkeeper Alexander Nubel helpless—an unfortunate moment as Kimmich himself inadvertently diverted the ball.

"It certainly wasn't a good performance from us. It's unfortunate we lost it late on; I don't think that was necessary. We didn't create many scoring opportunities 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 Nagelsmann's

Some saw echoes of Germany's earlier World Cup exit under Julian Nagelsmann due to similar struggles against compact defenses. Kimmich dismissed the idea that old mistakes are repeating themselves. He stressed that Klopp’s philosophy is distinct, despite the lack of immediate success on the scoreboard. The captain believes the new framework offers a stronger base for future growth.

"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," Kimmich added.

Kimmich to Miss Upcoming Matches

Kimmich will be absent from Germany's next fixtures against Serbia and the return game versus Greece. Klopp is using this period to rotate the squad and assess other players. His absence creates a leadership gap that senior teammates will need to fill as Germany aims to recover from the setback. Meanwhile, Kimmich will focus on club duties while his international teammates try to claim the first victory of Klopp’s era 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)