Klopp celebrates first Germany win at third attempt as Serbia beaten

Jürgen Klopp won his first game as Germany coach after Tom Bischof and the impressive Florian Wirtz sealed a 2-0 home win over Serbia in the Nations League on Thursday.

A 1-1 draw in the Netherlands in his opener and Sunday's 1-0 loss at home to Greece had left Klopp on the brink of being the first Germany men's coach to fail to win in his first three matches in charge.

But Bischof's 39th-minute strike, after Wirtz's clever effort had come off the post, and a cool second-half finish from the Liverpool man meant their coach avoided such a fate. The home side should have scored many more in a lively display against limited opponents.

Klopp hailed his team for mastering his famed 'Gegenpressing', telling broadcaster ZDF: "Without the ball we were terrific and with the ball we just played wonderful football."

He added: "I have told the lads that this has to be our benchmark. That is what we want. Our offensive work with our Gegenpressing, that is possible against every opponent."  

Germany are looking to rebuild under storied coach Klopp after a third straight early World Cup exit in June under previous boss Julian Nagelsmann.

Klopp handed debuts to Bayern reserve keeper Jonas Urbig and Freiburg winger Derry Scherhant against the Serbians.

Serge Gnabry was also named captain for the first time given usual skipper Joshua Kimmich was part of the first of two squads for this Nations League window.

This second squad was slightly less experienced on paper and the line-up more experimental given Wirtz was in a midfield three rather than the front trio, which included Gnabry, Scherhant and Nick Woltemade.

Wirtz magic

A UEFA ban meant the Serbian football association could not sell tickets for the Munich game, but a few fans from the Balkan nation did find their way into the Allianz Arena.

Munich city council was worried by the game happening at the same time as Oktoberfest, but police played down any talk of being stretched.

Bayern midfielder Aleksandar Pavlović, whose father is Serbian, fired wide for Germany early on at his home ground. Club colleagues Gnabry and Bischof also went close.

Woltemade, trying to resurrect his career on loan at Juventus after a difficult time at Newcastle United, scuffed past the post in another first-half chance for Klopp's hosts.

Serbia, who lost to Greece and the Netherlands in Group A2, had rare forays forward yet mainly had to defend. They were finally undone by Bischof firing into the roof of the net following some Wirtz magic.

The Liverpool playmaker has struggled in the Premier League since lighting up the Bundesliga for Bayer Leverkusen, but he was at his very best in Munich. 

The second half saw a number of personnel changes, including Cologne winger Said El Mala and Brentford's Vitaly Janelt making their Germany debuts while Celtic's Mika Baur became the country's 1,000th men's international. 

Woltemade shot over from close range when it looked easier to score before Wirtz controlled a pass with a superb first touch, shimmied and picked his spot on 61 minutes.

"It was a lot of fun," said Wirtz, who was made captain in the second half. "It makes me proud."

Germany round off the international window against Greece in Thessaloniki on Sunday when Serbia visit the Dutch.