Three Observations from Germany and Jürgen Klopp’s dismal 1-0 defeat to Greece

(Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images) | Getty Images Is that it? So Germany played Greece with renewed focus and determination following the 1-1 draw to the Netherlands, and did, well, that. Let’s get the excuses out of the way. Yes, Jürgen Klopp only just took over the DFB. Yes, this was a

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What is the story about?

Is that it?

So Germany played Greece with renewed focus and determination following the 1-1 draw to the Netherlands, and did, well, that.

Let’s get the excuses out of the way. Yes, Jürgen Klopp only just took over the DFB. Yes, this was a mixed XI with a few established starters and some random newcomers. Yes, Greece parked the bus which is always difficult to deal with.

None of that justifies the indescribably limp and soulless performance the Germans put out on the night. This is not about player quality. Jürgen

Klopp knows how to elevate teams that lack world class talent. This is about concentration, aggression, and self belief. In short, it’s about mindset.

Klopp can coach the players in a rapid cycling gegenpressing system, but he can’t control them like robots. He can’t make sure Karim Adeyemi doesn’t miss all his shots. He can’t keep Joshua Kimmich from overhitting every lobbed pass. He can’t make Felix Nmecha defend (okay, maybe he can do something about that). He can’t stop the press from losing intensity 30 minutes into every half.

These problems are mental, but they have nothing to do with “passion” or “desire”. The players have plenty of both. The trouble is their fundamental lack of faith in themselves and the plan that the coach has given them. This is why, when they start the game, they look bright for 15 minutes before fading. Then in the second half, there is another 15 minute burst of activity before the sluggishness creeps back in.

This is a team that needs DEEP coaching from the top down. In this context, the decision to split the international break into two squads seems like a mistake. Klopp needs more time with these players. He needs them to buy into his methods, or else these performances will continue.

Some of these guys gotta go

Now that the A-team has shown us what it can do, we have a good idea of where some players should stand in the pecking order. To summarize:

Keep: Joshua Kimmich, Nathaniel Brown, Jonathan Tah, Philipp Treu, Nico Schlotterbeck. These players all showed strong performances or excelled in a certain role that the coach will find useful. In general, the starting backline should be settled completely. Kimmich, meanwhile, needs a proper partner.
Continue evaluating: Karim Adeyemi, Felix Nmecha, Younes Ebnoutalib, Alexander Nübel, Marc-André ter Stegen. These players show promise and have the potential to excel in a role if they continue getting chances. Adeyemi was truly rancid in the final third for the second game running, but he was also the team’s brightest attacker and improved when shifted to the left. Nmecha makes a poor partner for Kimmich but could work with someone else. The others deserve a shot at competing for a spot in the XI.
On thin ice: Bambasé Conté, Kevin Schade, Yann Aurel Bisseck, Kai Havertz, Serge Gnabry. Disappointing performances to begin with, but they deserve at least one more chance. Not more than that. Especially for Havertz and Gnabry, who are known quantities by this point.
Exile for 1000 years: Josha Vagnoman, Nadiem Amiri. A waste of a callup. They should never put on the national team jersey again.

By the next international break, Klopp should have a much leaner callup list. The 44-player gimmick was fun this time, but it’s clear that the squad needs to build chemistry as soon as possible.

Who can make an impact?

If Jürgen Klopp really does want to squeeze more out of this team, then he needs to get more talent on the pitch. Germany may not be France, but it has plenty left to give.

Nick Woltemade could offer something different at the striker position, that being a critical area of weakness for the Germans. Klopp might appreciate a striker with his skills, having employed Roberto Firmino to great effect at Liverpool FC.

Jamal Musiala and Lennart Karl would certainly elevate the attack. It is up to Bayern Munich to get them both back to fitness. Florian Wirtz, meanwhile, needs special attention. If Klopp can somehow revive him, then he will be doing his former club a favor while greatly enhancing the strength of the national team. Others like Said El Mala could provide a pacey alternative to the wasteful Adeyemi.

Tom Bischof and Aleksandar Pavlović both have a strong claim to the midfield, especially given their pre-established partnerships with Joshua Kimmich. They would certainly work better than Felix Nmecha.

In fact, at some point the coach has to drop the pretense and simply stuff the team with players from Bayern Munich. It seems like the simplest and fastest way to a cohesive lineup. And the sooner he can find a proper XI, the sooner Germany can begin walking the path to recovery.