Twenty one shots, a disallowed goal and still no breakthrough
One week earlier, Greece had shocked the football world by beating Germany for the first time in their history. Now Germany were back in Thessaloniki with revenge in their hearts and a manager under pressure.
They attacked, they pushed, they hammered at the door for ninety minutes. And yet, the ball would not go in. Here is the story of a night when a Greek wall refused to fall.
The Build Up
Revenge on one side, history on the other
Greece were enjoying a dream first campaign in League A. They were unbeaten in the group, and their coach Ivan Jovanović had built a side that was tough, organised and fearless. That famous win over Germany a week earlier had made the whole country dream bigger.
Germany, led by Jürgen Klopp, were chasing a way back. His first games in charge had been rocky, and they had only just snapped a four game winless run with a 2 to 0 win over Serbia in Munich. Klopp’s record before this match read one win, one draw and one defeat.
The night had a special feel for Florian Wirtz. He was handed the captain’s armband on his 48th cap for Germany, and fans expected the young star to lead the charge on a loud Sunday night at Toumba Stadium.
First Half
Germany attack, Greece survive
Greece began with a bang. Just three minutes in, Giorgos Masouras met a Kostas Tsimikas cross with a header, and Germany goalkeeper Jonas Urbig had to make a superb save to keep it out. The home crowd was alive.
After that, it was a one way street. Germany took over and never let go. They had around 74 per cent of the ball and outshot Greece 13 shots to 1 before the break. Wirtz showed lovely footwork before his shot was deflected over, and Greece goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis made big saves to keep out goalbound efforts from Derry Scherhant and David Raum.
Then came the heartbreak. Jonathan Burkardt thought he had scored, and the German bench leaped up. But VAR spotted a handball by Tom Bischof in the build up, and the goal was cancelled. Scherhant and Wirtz both saw late chances whistle just past the posts, and the half ended 0 to 0. Germany had dominated everything except the scoreboard.
Second Half
Greece find their courage
After the break Greece came out braver. They carried more of a threat at the start of the half and the game became scrappy, with plenty of fouls and stoppages. Germany lost some of their rhythm and the Greek fans sensed a chance.
Klopp made his first double change in the 63rd minute, bringing on Said El Mala and Nick Woltemade for Lennart Karl and Burkardt. He added Mika Baur and Bambasé Conté late on for Scherhant and Bischof, hoping fresh legs would find the key.
With 15 minutes left, the Greek bench almost went wild. Manolis Saliakas whipped in a beautiful cross and Masouras, free at the back post, headed just over. It was a huge chance. At the other end Germany pushed to the very end. Wirtz sent an effort sailing over and Philipp Treu’s late half volley flew over the bar. Not a single goal came, and the whistle blew on a 0 to 0 draw.
Beyond the Pitch
Numbers that tell the story
The numbers show how unlucky Germany were. They finished with 21 shots to Greece’s 5, with 4 on target to 2, and around 70 per cent of the possession. Yet they walked away with one point.
Klopp now has one win from his first four games in charge, and Germany are on course to miss the Nations League Finals for the fourth time in five editions. For a country with such pride, that is hard to swallow.
Greece have lost just two of their last 16 Nations League games, which shows how far this team has come. They have struggled for home form though, failing to win five of their last six at home, so this clean sheet in front of their own fans was a real boost.
Where It Leaves Both Teams
Greece dream, Germany scramble
Greece remain unbeaten and are level on eight points with the Netherlands. They sit second only because the Dutch have scored more goals. They have taken four points off Klopp’s side in the space of a week, and that could prove priceless.
Germany stay third in Group A2, three points behind. Only the top two teams reach the quarter finals, so Klopp’s men now face an uphill battle. They need to turn all that dominance into goals when the action returns in November.
The group is wide open, and Greece have become the story of League A. Nobody will want to face them now.
Featured image: Photo: Gparalikidis, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
