Klopp ahead of Germany–Greece: “Greece’s golden generation forces us to give our best”

Germany coach Jürgen Klopp has openly praised Greece’s “golden generation” ahead of tonight’s UEFA Nations League clash, as Greek Reporter reports. Speaking before the press conference in Herzogenaurach, Klopp described Greece as a team of exceptional individual quality, creativity and collective spirit, warning that the Germans will have to work hard to secure the result.

According to Greek Reporter, the match takes place tonight, Sunday 27 September 2026, kicking off at 20:45 local time (21:45 in Greece) at the WWK Arena in Augsburg. For Klopp, it will be his first home international since taking charge of Germany in August. He called the Greek side “a great generation, perhaps the golden generation of Greek football,” but his assessment is measured: he noted that Greece’s results so far have not fully reflected the quality he has seen in his analysis.

Greece arrive as group leaders, on 3 points after the 2-1 comeback win in Belgrade against Serbia on 24 September, with late goals from Christos Tzolis and Anastasios Douvikas. Germany, by contrast, opened the campaign with a 1-1 draw in Amsterdam against the Netherlands, and Klopp is still chasing his first win as national team coach. In Group 2 of League A, Greece have 3 points, Germany and the Netherlands one each, while Serbia are on 0.

At the press conference, as Greek Reporter reports, Klopp also singled out Kostas Tsimikas, whom he worked with previously at Liverpool, speaking warmly about their relationship and expressing a desire to work with him again. He highlighted the left-back’s cross for Greece’s winning goal against Serbia.

Germany’s preparations have been accompanied by attacking changes: Jamal Musiala and Kai Havertz have left the camp with muscle injuries following the Netherlands game, while Florian Wirtz and Jonathan Burkardt joined the squad earlier than planned.

Reflecting on his debut, Klopp praised the team’s intensity but admitted that Germany lost control as the Netherlands grew into the match. Sunday’s clash is the first of two meetings this month: Greece host the Netherlands on 1 October before welcoming Germany again in Thessaloniki on 4 October.