Kourbelis Goal Gives Greece Historic Win Over Germany

Germany’s Nations League campaign took another damaging turn on Sunday as Greece claimed a 1-0 win in Augsburg, their first victory over Die Mannschaft in 11 competitive meetings. Dimitrios Kourbelis struck in the 74th minute, with his effort taking a heavy deflection off Joshua Kimmich to beat the hosts.

The defeat leaves Germany without a win in four matches since the 2026 World Cup group stage and increases the pressure on Jurgen Klopp’s side before next month’s return fixture. Greece had greater cutting edge when it mattered, while Germany again failed to turn possession into sustained danger.

Former Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger delivered a blunt assessment after full-time, arguing that the national team have slipped from the elite level. He said the side have accepted being ordinary and had not put Greece under enough pressure to make the visitors uncomfortable.

Schweinsteiger felt Germany had shown more in Thursday’s 1-1 draw with the Netherlands, but said the performance against Greece lacked intensity and attacking force. He also questioned whether Klopp’s rotation within a 44-player squad had left the team short of decisive individuals, contrasting Germany’s display with the threat offered by Greece forwards Konstantinos Karetsas, Christos Tzolis and Vangelis Pavlidis.

Questions over Adeyemi role

Karim Adeyemi’s positioning was another issue raised after the loss. The attacker was used from the right for Germany, despite making a strong start at Barcelona on the left side, where Schweinsteiger believes his pace and direct running are best used.

“That is where I see him playing,” Schweinsteiger said of Adeyemi’s preferred flank, while insisting Klopp should not shoulder the entire responsibility for the result. He stressed that coaching alone cannot solve Germany’s problems and said the players must examine whether they are delivering enough themselves.

Germany host Serbia in their third Nations League match on Thursday, October 1, before travelling to Greece three days later. A response is now essential if Klopp’s team are to keep their quarter-final ambitions intact and erase the embarrassment of Augsburg.