Key Takeaways:
- Jurgen Klopp secured his first win as Germany manager evening as his side defeated Serbia 2-0 at the Allianz Arena
- Tom Bischof netted his maiden international goal just before half-time, with Florian Wirtz also on the scoresheet
- Serbia remain without a point and face the threat of relegation from UEFA Nations League A, having now suffered six defeats in seven matches in 2026
Match Analysis
Jurgen Klopp’s managerial tenure with Germany is finally underway in winning fashion, after his charges overcame Serbia 2-0 at the Allianz Arena. After making sweeping changes following Sunday’s home loss to Greece, Klopp was determined to avoid becoming the first Germany manager to go winless in their opening three matches at the helm. The result puts Die Nationalelf back on track in the UEFA Nations League A and leaves Serbia yet to register a point, teetering on the brink of relegation.
Germany secure the win at home 🇩🇪#NationsLeague pic.twitter.com/1sDFEIsIAe
— UEFA EURO (@UEFAEURO) October 1, 2026
First Half: Missed Chances and Breakthrough
Germany began the encounter at a rapid tempo, facing a Serbian team whose own form had been poor. Aleksandar Pavlovic was first to go close, curling an effort narrowly wide against the nation for which he is also eligible. Further chances fell to Nick Woltemade, who twice threatened, while Serge Gnabry could not find the target after latching onto Florian Wirtz’s incisive through pass.
The hosts continued to carve out opportunities, as debutant Derry Scherhant curled an effort off target, and Serbian goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic executed a crucial one-on-one save to deny Gnabry. Florian Wirtz then headed straight at Petrovic from a Gnabry cross, a further near miss. The deadlock was finally broken minutes before the interval, when Wirtz’s skilful dribbling led to a shot that rebounded off the post, allowing Tom Bischof to fire home the rebound into the roof of the net – marking his first goal for the national team.
Second Half: Wirtz Seals the Win
The second half mirrored the first in terms of Germany’s dominance and profligacy in front of goal. Scherhant found the side netting on three occasions, while Said El Mala made his entrance and sought to make a scoring debut. The Allianz Arena crowd was left stunned when Woltemade missed a glaring opportunity from close range, volleying over after an inviting cross from Philipp Treu.
The decisive second goal arrived in the 60th minute, as Maximilian Mittelstadt surged forward before finding Wirtz. The Germany midfielder executed a clever turn past Srdjan Babic and placed his finish into the bottom corner, doubling the hosts’ advantage. From there, Germany controlled proceedings comfortably, restricting Serbia to minimal attacking opportunities and affording few clear chances at the other end.
Looking Ahead
Germany and Jurgen Klopp can take considerable encouragement from a controlled display, particularly the manner in which they stifled Serbian attacks throughout the ninety minutes. With an opportunity for redemption against Greece on Sunday, Die Nationalelf will seek to consolidate their position in League A, which they have yet to relinquish. Meanwhile, Serbia’s place in the top tier looks precarious after another disappointing defeat, extending their troubled campaign in 2026.
