Fair to say that things haven’t gone smoothly for Jurgen Klopp since becoming the Germany manager.
After a disastrous 2026 World Cup finals, the former Liverpool boss replacing Julian Nagelsmann.
Picking his first Germany squad Jurgen Klopp surprised everybody by actually picking two squads.
A total of 44 players named in total with many of them only considered for the opening two matches in September of this international break, then an overwhelmingly different group of players to cover the third and fourth games in October.
A 1-1 draw away against the Netherlands wasn’t a disaster but fair to say losing 1-0 at home to Greece didn’t go down well. Afterwards Jurgen Klopp admitting: “I could have lived with us not winning but you cannot lose such a game…”
So the pressure was on at the Allianz Arena on Thursday night, as 68,121 turned up to see how Jurgen Klopp would get on against Serbia.
It ended up a very different Germany team, a completely different starting 11 to the shocking defeat to Greece. Also, a very different performance.
A very convincing 2-0 victory over Serbia in this Nations League clash and a front two of Nick Woltemade and Florian Wirtz played a huge part in that.
The Newcastle United striker who is on loan at Juventus was the key focal point of the attack and his unselfish work linked up play and created space for others. Nick Woltemade playing the opening 77 minutes before subbed off with the game won.
Germany dominant and Florian Wirtz man of the match, the Liverpool player with some great play that helped create the chance for Bischof to open the scoring on 39 minutes. Wirtz then making the game safe with Germany’s second goal just after the hour mark.
Germany could and should have had more goals, with a total of 30 shots and an Expected Goals stat of 4.05. However, Jurgen Klopp will have been happy and relieved with this attacking display overall, including the valuable contribution of United’s Big Nick.
At the other end of the pitch Malick Thiaw didn’t do himself any harm. This extended international break of four matches giving him a rare start and he will have given Jurgen Klopp something to think about, as the Newcastle defender played the full match and helped restrict Serbia to just a sole effort on target and an Expected Goals stat of only 0.02 for Serbia.
The player ratings following the game saw Goal award the following for the Newcastle United duo
Malick Thiaw – 7/10 ‘Composed on the ball and physically imposing, Thiaw ensured Luka Jovic was kept on the periphery of the game. His ability to step into midfield helped Germany sustain their high press throughout the 90 minutes.’
Nick Woltemade – 7/10 ‘Acted as a crucial focal point, using his frame to hold up the ball and bring others into play. While he didn’t get on the scoresheet, his presence occupied both Serbian central defenders, allowing Wirtz the freedom to roam.’
Very interesting now to see what Jurgen Klopp does on Sunday, with Germany away to Greece and looking for revenge. Every chance surely that he as much as possible will look to give this same starting eleven a chance to follow up their performance against Serbia.
This is the September and October 2026 international schedule for Newcastle United players:
Thursday 24 September
Ivory Coast 2 Ghana 0
Bazoumana Toure coming off the bench in the 86th minute with the score already 2-0 in this AFCON group qualifier.
DR Congo 2 Equatorial Guinea 0
Yoane Wissa scoring in the 72nd minute to ensure the win in this AFCON group qualifier.
Friday 25 September
Italy 0 Belgium 2
Matias Fernandez-Pardo coming off the bench on 83 minutes in this Nations League match to help see out the win.
England U21s 4 Kazakhstan U21s 2
Lewis Miley and unused sub as the young England side win this European Championship Qualifier.
Iceland U21s 1 France U21s 1
Aladji Bamba an unused sub but Ewen Jaouen played the full game as France took an early lead but conceded in the second half, so a draw in this European Championship Qualifier.
Netherlands U21s 0 Norway U21s 0
Sean Steur making his first ever Under 21s appearance as an 83rd minute sub in this goalless European Championship Qualifier.
Saturday 26 September
England 2 Spain 3
Lewis Hall an unused sub as England lose this Nations League five goal thriller.
Czech Republic 1 Croatia 2
Defeat for Lukas Hornicek and his international teammates in this Nations League clash. The Newcastle United keeper conceding in the 47th and 77th minutes, either side of a 54th minute equaliser for the Czech Republic.
South Africa 2 Guinea 1
Summer signing Ousmane Diabate came off the bench for the second half with his team 1-0 down, Guinea equalised but still ended up losing this AFCON group qualifier.
Monday 28 September
Zimbabwe 1 DR Congo 2
Yoane Wissa scored the first and got an assist for the second as DR Congo were 2-0 at half-time in this AFCON qualifier. Zimbabwe scoring a consolation in added time.
Belgium 0 France 1
Matias Fernandez-Pardo an 85th minute sub in this Nations League match, which saw Michael Olise score a superb 88th minute solo effort to win the game.
Tuesday 29 September
Estonia U21s 0 France U21s 2
Aladji Bamba and Ewen Jaouen both played the full match in this Under 21s European Championship group qualifier win.
Somalia 0 Ivory Coast 2
Bazoumana Toure coming on as a 65th minute sub in this AFCON qualifier. Ivory Coast battered Somalia but it wasn’t until the 89th minute when the Newcastle winger opened them up and Gboho scored when Toure’s cross could only be blocked. The United star then grabbing a goal of his own when a shot came back off the post and he smashed the rebound into the roof of the net.
Czech Republic 0 England 2
Lewis Hall outstanding in this victory against a Czech side that were a man down after 25 minutes. Anthony Gordon just pipped this United star to the man of the match award as they combined superbly down the left side. Less said about most of their teammates the better! Gordon opening the scoring with a very clever header, Kane then taking advantage of a free shot from ten yards out as the ball fell kindly. Newcastle’s Lukas Hornicek watching this Nations League clash from the bench.
Thursday 1 October
Guinea 1 Kenya 0
Ousmane Diabate played the full match as Guinea won this AFCON group qualifier, great to see the Newcastle United teenager getting so much first team football for his national side and in Turkey at his loan club.
Germany 2 Serbia 0
Jurgen Klopp playing a completely changed starting 11 after the disastrous home defeat to Greece. Malick Thiaw and Nick Woltemade both having very good games in this dominant Nations League victory.
Friday 2 October
DR Congo v Uganda (Yoane Wissa) Friendly
Belgium v Turkey (Matias Fernandez-Pardo) Nations League
England U21s v Slovakia U21s (Lewis Miley) European Championship Qualifier
Slovenia U21s v Netherlands U21s (Sean Steur) European Championship Qualifier
Saturday 3 October
Ivory Coast v Cameroon (Bazoumana Toure) Friendly
Croatia v England (Lewis Hall) Nations League
Spain v Czech Republic (Lukas Hornicek) Nations League
France U21s v Luxembourg U21s (Aladji Bamba, Ewen Jaouen) European Championship Qualifier
Sunday 4 October
Greece v Germany (Malick Thiaw (and Nick Woltemade)) Nations League
Monday 5 October
Uganda v DR Congo (Yoane Wissa) Friendly
France v Belgium (Matias Fernandez-Pardo) Nations League
Tuesday 6 October
England v Czech Republic (Lewis Hall, Lukas Hornicek) Nations League
Republic of Ireland U21s v England U21s (Lewis Miley) European Championship Qualifier
France U21s v Switzerland U21s (Aladji Bamba, Ewen Jaouen) European Championship Qualifier
Netherlands U21s v Bosnia and Herzegovina U21s (Sean Steur) European Championship Qualifier