Jürgen Klopp shows compassion: DFB newcomer could restore wing quality

Thanks to a convincing performance over large stretches against Serbia, the DFB‑team preserves its chance of reaching the quarter‑finals in the Nations League.

In the 3‑1 victory (2‑0) in Belgrade, a debutant is at the centre of attention and could enrich Germany in the future with a quality that has been missing for years.

Successful performance against Serbia

Captain Joshua Kimmich is back in the starting eleven and proves that the combination with Walter in midfield works excellently.

However, it could become tight for a summer signing of FC Bayern Munich.

Brajan Gruda impresses in his delayed debut for the national team.

Jürgen Klopp had already emphasized during his introduction as the new national coach in late summer that wing play should be brought back into focus.

Predecessor Julian Nagelsmann often deployed only nominal wingers and let the creative duo Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz occupy the half‑spaces.

Klopp said at the time: “Any team can make the game tight, the playmakers of today play on the wing.”

The attacking play of the German side has often been sluggish in recent years, allowing opponents to calculate it easily.

Especially against deep‑lying opponents, such as in the World Cup qualifier against Paraguay, the team struggled.

It lacked pace and 1‑on‑1 qualities to turn creativity from the centre into goal threats.

In the first four games under Klopp, various candidates were allowed to test the offensive flanks.

Rain in Belgrade lets German national team shine – Wirtz and Gruda shape the win

Gruda’s debut and statistics

During the international break in early October, Klopp introduced five players: Lennart Karl from FC Bayern Munich, Said El Mala from 1. FC Köln, Derry Scherhant from SC Freiburg, Kevin Schade from Brentford and Karim Adeyemi from FC Barcelona.

Against Serbia, Brajan Gruda made his long‑awaited debut in the DFB jersey.

Klopp had already called Gruda into the initial squad, but an abdominal muscle strain prevented this at short notice.

He emphasized that the “street footballer” Gruda plays a big role and has been on his watchlist for years.

Klopp said: “He is an awesome player who has not yet fully realised his potential.”

The 22‑year‑old Gruda impressively showed on Friday evening how he integrates into the combination play.

He used his pace for quick surges and went 1‑on‑1 against Serbian left‑back Petar Sukacev.

In the first half, an assist could have materialised had Kai Havertz not missed the header after a precise cross.

Klopp hails overall victory, Kimmich slams half‑time issues

After the break, Gruda crowned his performance with a solo run of over 50 metres and a shot from the edge of the box that was unstoppable.

According to OPTA, he recorded 14 dribbles, nine of them successful – a figure that has only been reached once in the past ten years, by Jamal Musiala at the 2022 World Cup.

Klopp praised Gruda after the final whistle and described his performance as a “mad performance.”

He expressed sympathy for the Serbian left‑back: “The left‑back, he’s a poor fellow!”

Midfield with Kimmich

In the new midfield, the combination with Joshua Kimmich works excellently.

In the past two games, Kimmich was not called up; instead, Aleksandar Pavlovic, Tom Bischof and Florian Wirtz formed the midfield trio.

Pavlovic took over the Kimmich role as the number six, while Bischof (in the second international) and Wirtz harmonised fantastically in the half‑spaces.