Greece scored a 74th-minute goal through Dimitris Kourbelis to stun hosts Germany 1-0 in their Nations League Group A2 on Sunday to top the group and spoil coach Juergen Klopp’s home debut on the German bench.
It was the first ever victory for the Greeks in 11 matches against the Germans, and they now lead their group on six points from two matches. Germany are on one point.
The hosts were in control for most of the game and had close to 80% possession in the first half alone but they were ultimately punished for sloppy defending, especially in the second half, which gave the Greeks space to attack.
Klopp, who took over in July after Germany’s early World Cup
exit, has now failed to win either of his two matches in charge
following a 1-1 draw against the Dutch in Amsterdam on
Thursday.
“I could have lived with us not winning but you cannot lose
such a game,” Klopp said. “We have been together for a week now,
all mixed together, and that needs time.
“The result is not cool but it is absolutely part of the
process,” he said. Germany next play Serbia on Thursday before
travelling to Greece three days later.
Despite enjoying a dominant first half it was only after
they upped their tempo and started pressing higher that Germany
carved out scoring chances.
Felix Nmecha fired wide in the 54th, a minute after Greece
keeper Konstantinos Tzolakis had palmed a Joshua Kimmich free
kick over the bar.
The Greeks, however, almost scored in the 66th after
Kimmich lost possession in his own half but substitute Fotis
Ioannidis fired just wide of the post.
They did better in the 74th with Kourbelis’ deflected low
drive that gave them the win to make it two victories in a row
after their last-gasp 2-1 win over Serbia on Thursday.
In the same group, Netherlands earned a 2-1 victory over
Serbia thanks to Mexx Meerdink’s double strike on his second
appearance for his country.
It was the first win under new coach Xavi Hernandez
following their draw with Germany on Thursday.
“It’s a boyhood dream. I actually don’t have any words for
it,” Meerdink said. “Everything is happening so quickly. You
just don’t realise what can happen in the space of a week. It’s
also great that we managed to win here.
“Sometimes you need a bit of luck. This time it went my way.
Then you have to be there and be important for the team. I did
feel a little pressure, I was a bit nervous. But you play that
out of your system. And then to be allowed to score two is
fantastic.”
Joao Felix scored for the second consecutive Nations League
match as defending champions Portugal, with Cristiano Ronaldo on
the bench throughout, edged past hosts Norway 2-1 to top Group
A4 with two wins from two matches so far.
The Norwegians cancelled out Felix’s 17th-minute lead with
Erling Haaland’s equaliser before Goncalo Ramos’ chip won it for
the visitors.
Ben Davies scored a 53rd-minute own goal and Gustav
Isaksen added another on the hour as Denmark eased past Wales
2-0 to earn their first points in Group A4.
In a politically charged encounter in Group B3, Ireland
scored twice in three minutes early in the first half to ease
past Israel 3-0.
Source: Khaleej Times