Liverpool legend Jurgen Klopp was in the dugout in Augsburg, taking charge of his first home match with Die Mannschaft since replacing Julian Nagelsmann this summer
Jurgen Klopp looks on during Germany vs Greece in the UEFA Nations League.
Jurgen Klopp looks on during Germany vs Greece in the UEFA Nations League.(Image: Michaela STACHE / AFP via Getty Images)
AUGSBURG, GERMANY // It was purely coincidental that on a packed tram carriage heading in the direction of the WWK Arena, a small group of Germany supporters — led by a drum and a megaphone — began chanting about Borussia Dortmund.
Of course, that is the Bundesliga club that Jurgen Klopp is most associated with, but the Liverpool legend now belongs to everyone here.
Soon after the chants for Dortmund came rival attempts from a section of Borussia Monchengladbach fans to make their team get heard the loudest, and then Eintracht Frankfurt. One lone Bayern Munich supporter dared to shout his side's name before he quickly got drowned out.
On this evidence, though, it is going to be some job that Klopp undertakes with Germany if he is to turn Doubters into Believers all over again. That World Cup victory of 2014 feels a long time ago now.
German fans could be forgiven for wondering where their next major success might come from, but the appointment of Klopp had appeared to have changed the mood. After this defeat, that feeling, in the immediate term, at least, might be tested.
The 59-year-old's first game, a few days ago, saw Die Mannschaft gain a respectable 1-1 point away in Amsterdam against the Netherlands. Only a stoppage-time goal from Cody Gakpo stopped Klopp from winning there.
Here, however, there was a much-changed team featuring names that will be unfamiliar to those who don't watch the Bundesliga — the Stuttgart full-back Josha Vagnoman and the Frankfurt forward Younes Ebnoutalib, for instance.
Jurgen Klopp, Germany head coach, in a press conference and Florian Wirtz in training
Jurgen Klopp, Germany head coach, in a press conference and Florian Wirtz in training(Image: Getty Images)
Liverpool ace Florian Wirtz, meanwhile, drafted in earlier than anticipated after an injury to Kai Havertz last time out, was named among the substitutes.
Perhaps in an ideal world, Wirtz wouldn't have been needed. But Germany toiled in attack, and looked vulnerable defensively on the counter too. It lacked creativity without him, and didn't improve that much when he appeared.
Entering the field with around half an hour to play and operating down the left-hand side for a moment and then mainly as a number 10, the plan appeared to be for everything to go through Wirtz.
But, up to that point, Greece had seen less of the ball, but created the biggest chances. Fotis Ioannidis should have scored and then Dimitrios Kourbelis, via a hefty deflection, did find the breakthrough midway through the second half.
Konstantinos Karetsas of Greece comes up against Florian Wirtz of Germany.
Konstantinos Karetsas of Greece comes up against Florian Wirtz of Germany.(Image: Harry Langer/DeFodi via Getty Images)
A lot like at Liverpool, Wirtz did some good stuff when he was on the field, and played some technically underrated passes. He did a lot of running, too, but it ultimately never came to fruition, which proved to be a problem.
There are high hopes in Germany for the Bayern Munich wonderkid Lennart Karl, while Said El Mala is another to keep an eye on. Neither were present here, while Karim Adeyemi, who was, has never really kicked on and delivered on his promise, even if he is now at Barcelona.
Adeyemi, his so far career in a nutshell, was brilliant one minute (forcing a good save from Kostas Tzolakis after a lovely drop of the shoulder) and dreadful the next (slicing an effort so far wide it would have hit the corner flag were it not 30 yards in the air).
In truth, going forward, the brightest sparks in Augsburg were wearing dark blue: on the left, the Arsenal summer signing Christos Tzolis, and on the right, exciting 18-year-old Borussia Dortmund prospect Konstantinos Karetsas.
A Golden Generation of Greek players this might be, but Germany was meek. The 30,000 or so packed into the WWK Arena became increasingly frustrated. Klopp — sat on a bucket on the touchline and sporting a familiar grin — could do nothing as the clock ticked down.
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Felix Nmecha looked elegant in midfield — though he made a pathetic attempt at a tackle in the moment that Greece went in front — and Joshua Kimmich, at 31, is the only key man who is a veteran.
Quite simply, though, if Klopp is going to be a success with Germany, a lot of those hopes are going to rest on the shoulders of Wirtz, a man who is still getting up to speed in the Premier League after a mega $157 million (£116 million) transfer move.
Brentford's Kevin Schade has huge potential and there is of course the injured Jamal Musiala. But Germany, lacking something in the final third, was in need of a fully-firing Wirtz. The reality is, without it, it doesn't appear to be heading anywhere.
If Liverpool is to achieve its aims under Andoni Iraola, it seems likely that Wirtz will be central. That is even more true at international level, however, where the 23-year-old will have to carry Klopp and the nation, who face a huge task to meet substantial expectations.