Germany somehow managed to lose a football match in which virtually every meaningful statistic suggested it should have won.
The numbers from the 1-0 defeat to Greece paint a picture of a German side that dominated possession and controlled the ball — only to walk away without a goal to show for it.
Germany finished with a staggering 76% possession and completed 667 passes at a 91% accuracy rate, compared to just 166 accurate passes for Greece. The Germans
also held a significant advantage in attacking activity, registering 16 shots to Greece’s eight, five shots on target to one, and 30 touches in the opposition box to 11.
And yet, the scoreboard offered the only statistic that ultimately mattered.
Greece scored the game’s lone goal and held on for a 1-0 victory despite having just 24% possession and managing only one shot on target. Germany even earned eight corners to Greece’s two and generated the better expected-goals figure, 1.34 to 0.77.
There was one big chance for each team, and both were missed, but Germany’s inability to turn territorial dominance into an actual goal proved decisive. It is the classic football paradox: dominate the ball, dominate the passing, dominate the territory, create more chances — and still lose.
Surely, some Germany fans are getting a little sick of that action.
Germany essentially won the statistical battle in almost every category except the one that matters. Greece didn’t need to control the match. It needed one goal, one defensive effort, and enough discipline to survive the German pressure.
Mission accomplished for the Greeks.
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