Klopp accepts responsibility as Germany suffer Greece defeat

In partnership with

The Football Faithful

·28 September 2026

Klopp accepts responsibility as Germany suffer Greece defeat

Jürgen Klopp admitted Germany’s defeat by Greece was partly down to his own decisions, but insisted the setback would provide useful information as he continues to rebuild the national team.

Germany lost 1-0 in Augsburg on Sunday, with Dimitrios Kourbelis’ deflected strike 16 minutes from time giving Greece their first victory over Germany in 11 meetings. The result leaves Klopp still waiting for his first win after a draw with the Netherlands in his opening game.

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Klopp was particularly candid about his role in the disappointing performance, saying the starting XI, substitutions and overall composition of the team were “100 per cent” his responsibility.

He felt Germany should have been capable of breaking down a Greece side that defended deep, but acknowledged that his players lacked the established patterns required to consistently create openings.

“We have been together for a week now, all mixed together, and that needs time,” Klopp said after the game.

The former Liverpool manager also refused to dwell on the defeat itself, arguing that Germany could learn more from the experience than they would have from an easy victory.

“I’ve lost far more matches in my life than I would have liked,” Klopp told ARD. “As long as you draw the right conclusions, a loss is ultimately just a piece of information – no different from a win.”

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Klopp acknowledged that Germany’s lack of cohesion was exposed by Greece’s compact defensive approach. He said the players needed more time on the training ground to develop the movements and combinations required to break down opponents who sit deep.

The manager also defended his decision to make significant changes to the squad, explaining that he wanted to use the international window to assess new players rather than simply reproduce the team that represented Germany at the World Cup.

“We are opening the door for many new faces,” Klopp said, while acknowledging that the limited preparation time made that process more difficult.

Despite the frustration, Klopp maintained that the defeat did not alter his belief in the process he has begun with Germany.

“Personally, I’m completely unbothered by it,” he said. “We absolutely need these kinds of matches – they are exactly the games we wanted to have.”

Greece, meanwhile, moved top of Nations League Group A2 with six points from two matches. Germany have one point from their opening two games.