Germany hosts Serbia at the Allianz Arena in Munich on October 1, 2026, for a UEFA Nations League Group A2 fixture as manager Jürgen Klopp seeks his first victory in charge amid a depleted squad and mounting early-season pressure.
Klopp Seeks First Win as Germany Languishes in Group A2
Jürgen Klopp faces an urgent test on Thursday night as his side enters the third matchday of the UEFA Nations League sitting third in Group A2. The former Liverpool manager has endured a slow start to his tenure, taking just one point from his opening two fixtures.
The campaign began with a 1-1 draw in Amsterdam where a late Netherlands goal denied Klopp victory in his coaching debut.
Personnel issues have severely complicated Klopp’s preparations at the Allianz Arena. Center-back Nico Schlotterbeck was forced to withdraw from the squad after tearing a lateral ligament in his right ankle during the team’s final training session, compounding a defensive injury crisis that already sidelined him for months following the World Cup. Klopp will not call up a replacement.
The tactical overhaul extends further up the pitch. Jamal Musiala remains sidelined after missing the Netherlands fixture, while Kai Havertz returned to Arsenal with a suspected hamstring strain sustained in Amsterdam. To inject fresh energy, Klopp selected a massive pool of 44 players across two separate lists during this international window, offering a completely revamped group the chance to halt a run of four matches without a victory.
Serbia’s Bottom-Table Battle and Familiar Faces
While Germany looks to escape the bottom half of the group, visitors Serbia arrive in Munich rooted to the foot of Group A2 with zero points. Under coach Veljko Paunović, who took over from Dragan Stojković in October 2025, the team has dropped consecutive matches to Greece and the Netherlands by identical 2-1 scorelines.
The fixture features several familiar Bundesliga veterans. Serbia’s squad includes Luka Jović and Filip Kostić, the latter of whom spent successful years anchoring Eintracht Frankfurt’s 2022 Europa League triumph. Now playing for PSV in the Netherlands, the 33-year-old winger brings vital experience as Serbia attempts to avoid consecutive defeats that mirror a defensive slide unseen in over two decades.
