Malick Thiaw makes his Germany case in Jürgen Klopp’s first win
Malick Thiaw helped Jürgen Klopp secure his first victory as Germany manager last night, completing the full 90 minutes in a 2-0 Nations League win over Serbia in Munich.
Nick Woltemade also started and played 76 minutes before being replaced by Jonathan Burkardt, with Tom Bischof and Florian Wirtz scoring the goals in Klopp’s third game in charge.
Thiaw helps deliver a clean sheet
Thiaw partnered Waldemar Anton at centre-back, and Klopp was pleased with how his defence supported Germany’s pressing. Speaking after the game, he said:
“The back line defended brilliantly on the front foot.”
Germany restricted Serbia to zero shots in a first half where they had 16 themselves. Thiaw nearly contributed at the other end too, forcing Djordje Petrovic into a save with an 81st-minute header.
As we explained last week, Thiaw and Woltemade missed Klopp’s opening two fixtures because they were selected for the second of his two Germany groups.
Now Thiaw has had his opportunity, and a full game in the defence that delivered Klopp’s first win looks an encouraging start. With the new manager assessing 44 players across this window, he’s given himself something useful to build on.
Woltemade earns praise despite a costly miss
In what is becoming typical Woltemade fashion, he had a more mixed evening in front of goal.
He set up a good first-half chance for Serge Gnabry, whose effort was saved, but then missed an open goal from close range in the 59th minute. Wirtz doubled Germany’s lead two minutes later.
His work without the ball clearly pleased Klopp, though. The Germany boss singled him out when discussing the pressing, saying:
“Nick Woltemade ran himself ragged today.”
That praise gives us something positive to take from his evening, even if he’ll be frustrated to have finished without a goal.
Germany next face Greece in Thessaloniki on Sunday, with kick-off at 7.45pm UK time.
