Germany vs Serbia: Gnabry Captains as Wirtz Sparks Lead
Took a sharp turn at the Allianz Arena as Serge Gnabry captained Germany, debutant Jonas Urbig started in goal and Florian Wirtz struck twice in a 2-0 lead…
Germany vs Serbia brought a fresh look to Germany’s UEFA Nations League campaign on Thursday night at the Allianz Arena, with Serge Gnabry wearing the captain’s armband and Jonas Urbig handed a debut in goal. Germany went into the match still searching for a first win under Jürgen Klopp after drawing 1-1 with the Netherlands and losing 0-1 to Greece.
The match quickly turned into a test of Germany’s reshaped squad. By the time Florian Wirtz struck again in the second half, Germany had moved into a 2-0 lead and the home crowd had something to latch onto.
Klopp’s changes reshape Germany vs Serbia
According to the confirmed lineups reported by Yahoo Sports, Klopp made sweeping changes from earlier games in the break. He used a group built from two squads of 44 players across the international window, and this selection reflected that reset.
Germany lined up with Urbig in goal, then Treu, Anton, Thiaw and Mittelstädt across the back line. Bischof and Pavlovic started in midfield, while Gnabry, Wirtz and Scherhant played behind Woltemade. Serbia responded with Petrovic; Nedeljkovic, Erakovic, Gudelj and Babic; Zivkovic, Maksimovic, Dzodic and Kostic; Tadic and Jovic.
It was a bold setup. And it showed. Urbig’s debut put a new face on the team sheet, while Derry Scherhant was also in line for his first cap. Gnabry, meanwhile, took on the captaincy without Joshua Kimmich available.
Wirtz delivers the edge
The live match updates from The Guardian showed Germany taking control before the interval. Felix Bischof opened the scoring in the 39th minute, giving Germany a 1-0 lead at the break.
Then Wirtz stepped in. He made it 2-0 in the 61st minute, and that goal carried real weight for Germany’s pursuit of a first victory under Klopp. The result also gave the manager a clearer read on a group that has been heavily rotated across the international break.
For Serbia, the scoreline meant they were forced to chase the game after Germany’s second goal, but the published live feed and confirmed lineups offered no further scoring details beyond Wirtz’s strike and the early Germany advantage.
Why the result matters
This game mattered beyond one night in Munich. Germany’s recent results had left Klopp looking for a clean response, and a home match against Serbia offered that chance in a competitive setting. A debut in goal, a new captain and a first start for Scherhant all pointed to a team still being shaped.
That matters for selection, and it matters for rhythm. When a side is rotating heavily, every minute becomes a reference point for the next call-up, the next lineup and the next competitive fixture. For Germany, the question was not only whether they could beat Serbia, but which parts of this reshuffled group would hold up under pressure.
The live sequence made one thing plain: Germany had the early edge, and Wirtz’s 61st-minute finish pushed the evening firmly in their direction.
Source: bbc.com
