Germany vs Serbia preview: key Nations League 2026 test
Germany will host Serbia at the Allianz Arena on Thursday in UEFA Nations League Group B as Jurgen Klopp looks to guide his new-look side to their first win since taking charge. The match kicks off...
Germany will host Serbia at the Allianz Arena on Thursday in UEFA Nations League Group B as Jurgen Klopp looks to guide his new-look side to their first win since taking charge. The match kicks off at 7:45pm UK time.
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Germany v Serbia preview
Klopp’s side arrive under pressure after failing to win any of their three Nations League fixtures under the new manager. Germany drew 1-1 with the Netherlands before suffering a surprise 1-0 loss at home to Greece, with substitute Dimitrios Kourbelis scoring the decisive goal. The setback left Die Mannschaft third in Group B with a single point from two games and without a goal for the first time in 15 matches.
To tackle the evolving challenge, Klopp has named an expanded 44-man squad split into two groups for the extended international window. Finn Dahmen of Augsburg is the only player included in both groups. Some players from the second group — including Florian Wirtz and Jonathan Burkardt — linked up with the squad ahead of the Greece game because of injuries to Kai Havertz and Jamal Musiala, and both came off the bench against Greece. They are among those considered for starting roles at the Allianz Arena.
Bayern Munich prospects Tom Bischof and Aleksander Pavlovic have joined the second group, which also includes Newcastle’s Malick Thiaw, Brentford’s Vitaly Janelt, Cologne forward Said El Mala and on-loan Juventus attacker Nick Woltemade. Klopp stressed the need to refresh both personnel and approach, saying: “We’ll change the squad, change the team. The good thing is that the other team doesn’t necessarily know how we’re going to play, but we don’t know right now how we’re going to play, because we have to bring that group together again. We can take a lot out of this game, and we will do that — and we’ll work on it.”
Team news for Germany v Serbia
Klopp reported no injury concerns within his new-look selection. Serbia, however, will be without Aleksandar Mitrovic due to injury, leaving Luka Jovic and Dejan Joveljic as the primary attacking options. Joveljic started the previous fixture against the Netherlands, while Jovic came off the bench to score.
Expected line-ups
Germany: Urbig; Baku, Anton, Thiaw, Raum; Janelt, Pavlovic; Adeyemi, Bischof, Wirtz; Burkardt
Serbia: V Milinkovic-Savic; Terzic, Pavlovic, Babic, Nadeljkovic; Lukic, Gudelj; S Milinkovic-Savic, Stankovic, Zivkovic; Joveljic
Recent form and historical context
Germany are without a win in their last four matches, stretching back to a World Cup group stage defeat by Ecuador in June. Their Nations League results stand at a 1-1 draw with the Netherlands (24 Sept 2026) and a 0-1 defeat to Greece (27 Sept 2026). Serbia have lost back-to-back Nations League games, most recently 2-1 to the Netherlands, and have won just once in their last six fixtures (a friendly victory over Saudi Arabia in March).
In head-to-head terms, the teams have met three times, with each side recording one win. Serbia’s solitary competitive victory came at the 2010 World Cup when they beat a German side reduced to 10 men. German fans will recall that Serbia have traditionally posed problems even in relatively limited head-to-head meetings.
Serbia have conceded in 11 consecutive matches and last kept a clean sheet away from home in a 1-0 win in Latvia in September last year. Germany’s goalscoring drought extended to their loss to Greece—their first scoreless game in 15 matches.
Why this match matters
With Group B tight, a victory for either side could substantially alter the early standings. Germany need a win to arrest their early slump and to build confidence for an experimental squad. Serbia must avoid a third defeat to prevent relegation playoff implications as the Nations League progresses.
Veljko Paunovic remained positive despite the defeat to the Netherlands, praising his players’ energy and organisation: “I certainly think the impression left is different. Defeats are never welcome, but if one has to lose, this is the way to do it… The most important thing is that we saw we could compete with them, score against them, and pose a threat.”
Broadcast and where to watch
Kickoff is at 7:45pm UK time. The match will be available in the UK via Amazon Prime Video on a pay-per-view basis for £2.49.
What Happens Next
Both teams have additional Nations League fixtures to come during the international window. Germany will aim to regroup and use the extended squad to discover combinations that click, while Serbia will look to build on the positives Paunovic highlighted and cope with Mitrovic’s absence. The Munich result will shape early Group B trajectories and set the tone for forthcoming fixtures.
For live updates and confirmed line-ups on matchday, refer to the official UEFA Nations League coverage and national team channels.
Source: Original report
