The German national team was unable to secure a victory in its second match against Greece within a week. Following the disappointing 0-1 loss in the first match, Jürgen Klopp’s team could not manage more than a 0-0 draw in Thessaloniki.
The DFB squad put in a spirited performance, especially in the first half, but failed to convert their dominance into a goal. After the break, some of their clarity on the field was lost.
Klopp relied on his second-string squad this time. Four FC Bayern players were in the starting lineup: Jonas Urbig in goal, Aleksandar Pavlovic and Tom Bischof in central midfield, and Lennart Karl up front. Pavlovic, in particular, once again proved to be a key playmaker.
Pavlovic takes command in midfield
Bayern goalkeeper Urbig was called into action right from the kickoff and made a strong save just one minute in to prevent an early deficit. After that, Urbig had little to do for long stretches, but he had to remain alert at all times to the Greeks’ long balls. Shortly after halftime, he stopped a header by Konstantinos Mavropanos (51′). Urbig looked confident dealing with crosses and made no notable mistakes in building up play.
Aleksandar Pavlovic tookcharge early on and orchestrated the German midfield. Pavlovic had plenty of touches on the ball and almost always found a clean solution, even under pressure and in tight spaces. The 22-year-old also regularly got involved near the opponent’s penalty area. Right up until the end, he cleverly distributed the ball to the wings, impressing with his precise passing. A mature performance from the Bayern pro.
Bischof was solid—Karl had his ups and downs
Tom Bischof started with two strong through balls and once again demonstrated that he can find solutions even under pressure from the opposition. However, Bischof wasn’t quite as conspicuous this time as he was in the 2-0 win over Serbia. Nevertheless, the 21-year-old impressed with clever passes and intelligent movement. He also repeatedly caused chaos in the Greek defense with small technical moves. Overall, it was a solid game that lacked only that final touch to make it a truly standout performance.
Eighteen-year-old Lennart Karl showcased his technical skills early on. His first dribble was successful, but the subsequent switch of play was not. Shortly afterward, Karl set up a chance for Florian Wirtz with a delicate touch. His quality was particularly evident in tight spaces, though he made a few passing errors during risky moves. Shortly after halftime, Karl created danger with a good shot. His work off the ball was also a positive. Overall, he played with commitment, but there’s room for improvement.
The overall assessment for the Bayern quartet is thus largely positive. Urbig and Pavlovic, in particular, once again made the most of their opportunities. Bischof confirmed the good impression he made in the match against Serbia—at least at times—while Karl showed flashes of his great potential without being able to leave a lasting mark on the game.