Germany suffered a 1-0 defeat to Greece on Sunday in Augsburg, marking Juergen Klopp’s first loss as the national team manager. The match, which was Klopp’s debut home game in charge since taking over in July, saw Greece secure their inaugural victory against Germany, breaking a streak of seven defeats and three draws dating back to 1960.

The only goal of the match came in the 74th minute when Greece’s Dimitrios Kourbelis scored with a low shot that deflected off Germany captain Joshua Kimmich before settling into the bottom left corner. Despite dominating possession for much of the game, Germany struggled to penetrate the Greek defense and lacked the attacking sharpness displayed in Klopp’s debut match, a 1-1 draw in the Netherlands four days earlier.

Klopp’s squad featured a significant number of new faces as he continues to assess the available talent pool. His 44-man roster included 16 uncapped players, and the starting lineup had five changes from the previous game. One notable inclusion was Bundesliga newcomer Bambase Conte of Hoffenheim, who made just four appearances at the top flight prior to his call-up. Conte had a promising start, forcing a save early in the match and remaining a threat throughout.

Barcelona forward Karim Adeyemi also had a notable chance in the first half, but his well-executed counterattack ended with the shot sailing narrowly over the crossbar. Greece, meanwhile, became more confident and effective on the counterattack as the game progressed, nearly scoring earlier when Fotis Ioannidis missed an opportunity with only Germany goalkeeper Alexander Nuebel to beat.

The defeat underscored the challenges Klopp faces in rebuilding a German side that experienced a disappointing run of early exits at the last three World Cups, including the 2026 tournament in North America. Klopp expressed perspective on the loss, describing it as simply “a piece of information” and emphasizing the importance of learning from the experience.

“We need to stand together, and that hasn’t changed,” center-back Jonathan Tah said. He noted the external excitement surrounding the new coach but stressed that the team’s performance on the field remains the key measure.

Captain Kimmich acknowledged Klopp’s clear expectations for the team, stating that the players must focus on implementation. Germany now looks to regroup and find a more consistent attacking approach as they prepare for upcoming fixtures under Klopp’s leadership.