After beating Serbia 2-0 at the Allianz Arena on Thursday, Germany travel to Greece to face a side that beat them 0-1 in Augsburg a week earlier. Following the improved performance against Serbia, Jürgen Klopp’s team will hope to secure another win before the international window comes to a close.
Jonas Urbig is a confirmed starter in goal. Klopp noted that the decision is not an indication of Germany’s long-term number-one hierarchy, but rather a way to give the young goalkeeper more playing time while he is not starting regularly for Bayern Munich.
Klopp also addressed the debate surrounding Joshua Kimmich’s status in the national team.
“Of course you can tell that it’s extremely difficult for me to say anything about that,” Klopp said after a reporter noted that he had sensed trouble when previously answering a question about Kimmich. “Because you want to make a story out of it. We played a good game. Our midfield [trio] was top class.”
“But can you imagine how shitty it would be if Germany had three, and only three, top class midfielders,” Klopp continued. “Why make it about one player when it’s just about the fact that we need several good players? We need all sorts of players. We need leaders. We need runners. We need everything. It was a loaded question. I understand that it’s a logical and normal question, but I think it’s come too soon.”
“I’m very satisfied with all the lads,” Klopp concluded. “I’m looking forward to the future and I hope we have [a large] selection. I just don’t stand a chance with that question without you guys making something out of it. I give up. Seriously. Officially. With respect that topic, I give up. Do what you want with it. I’m happy with the game and I’m happy that Joshua Kimmich is a leading player for Germany.”
Germany predicted XI vs Greece: Jonas Urbig – Ridle Baku, Waldemar Anton, Finn Jeltsch, David Raum – Aleksandar Pavlović, Tom Bischof – Lennart Karl, Florian Wirtz, Said El Mala – Jonathan Burkardt
