Substitute Dimitrios Kourbelis stunned Germany on Sunday, securing a 1-0 Nations League victory for Greece in Augsburg. The match marked a challenging start for German head coach Jurgen Klopp, who is still seeking his first win. Klopp, having rotated his squad with five changes following a 1-1 draw against the Netherlands on Thursday, acknowledged the results but remained unfazed. He stated that he has endured many losses in his career and emphasized that these types of competitive matches are essential for team development. The former Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund boss had made five changes to his team which drew 1-1 with the Netherlands on Thursday as he sought to give more of his players a chance to impress him. I’ve lost far more matches in my life than I would have liked,” Klopp told ARD. “We absolutely need these kinds of matches — they are exactly the games we wanted to have.”.
Despite controlling the majority of possession and showcasing an impressive debut from midfielder Bambase Conte, Germany struggled to create significant scoring opportunities. Kourbelis ultimately decided the contest with a deflected strike in the second half. Germany rarely tested Greek goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis throughout the evening.
Meanwhile, Ireland’s match against Israel in Debrecen, Hungary, drew significant attention due to widespread calls for a boycott over the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The fixture proceeded only after the Irish squad voted to play earlier in the week. In a show of solidarity with the Palestinian cause, the Irish players wore black armbands and bowed their heads during the Israeli national anthem. The teams notably bypassed the traditional pre-match handshakes and the exchange of pennants. Only a player vote in midweek allowed the game to go ahead.
Ireland secured a 3-0 victory, with Troy Parrott celebrating his 14th-minute opener with a heart gesture. Jack Moylan, who added the third goal in the 25th minute, kissed both his jersey badge and his black armband. Despite the sporting result, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar condemned the Irish team’s actions, characterizing their conduct as being on the wrong side of history. While Jack Moylan kissed the Irish badge on his jersey and his black armband after netting the third goal 25 minutes in, troy Parrott made a heart sign with his hands after opening the scoring on 14 minutes.
Elsewhere in the Nations League, Portugal coach Jorge Jesus opted to drop Cristiano Ronaldo for the encounter with Norway in Oslo. The 41-year-old veteran remained on the bench for the entire match—the first time he has been left out of the rotation since September 2024. His replacement, Goncalo Ramos, proved decisive; after Joao Felix opened the scoring in the 17th minute, Ramos capitalized on a blunder by goalkeeper Orjan Nyland to net the winner in a 2-1 victory. “The most important thing is to show what I can do whenever I’m called upon and to contribute to the team,” Ramos told Sport TV, without being drawn on his selection ahead of Ronaldo. And did not get onto the pitch, the 41-year-old Ronaldo was named among the substitutes for the first time for Portugal since a Nations League game against Scotland in September 2024.
Ramos noted that his performance served as a demonstration of his value to the squad, focusing on his overall contributions rather than just individual scoring. Norway’s Erling Haaland had equalized for the hosts early in the second half but missed several other chances throughout the game.
The Netherlands achieved their first victory under new head coach Xavi Hernandez, defeating Serbia 2-1 in Belgrade. Following a disappointing World Cup exit to Morocco, the Dutch side saw a brace from Mexx Meerdink seal the result. Meerdink opened the scoring from the penalty spot after a foul on Crysencio Summerville. Although Serbia equalized via Luka Jovic immediately after the break, Meerdink secured the win in the 69th minute with a left-footed finish set up by Guus Til.
In other action, Denmark rebounded from a previous loss to Norway by defeating Wales 2-0 in Copenhagen. The result continued the Scandinavians’ strong record against Wales, having won their last four meetings. Additionally, Austria maintained a perfect record in League B by dispatching Kosovo 3-1 in Vienna, with goals coming from David Affengruber, Junior Adamu, and Carney Chukwuemeka.
