Klopp secures final against the Netherlands after rain‑win in Belgrade

National team coach Jürgen Klopp could be satisfied with his team's performance against Serbia in the rain in Belgrade, because the team thereby secured the long‑awaited final against the Netherlands (the Oranje) in the Nations League.

The victory gave the German team the quarter‑final ticket in the Nations League against Holland. In the pouring rain Klopp assessed his DFB eleven's performance as dominant and serious against the weak Serbians. After the match Klopp first thanked returnee Niclas Füllkrug with a handshake, then the drenched players, before disappearing into the tunnel to the dressing room.

In the constant rain in Belgrade the football national team delivered the hoped‑for first “final” in the still‑young DFB career of the coach. The German side, led by Florian Wirtz and newcomer Brajan Gruda, comfortably saw off Serbia 3‑1 (2‑0). Captain Joshua Kimmich said after the victory on RTL that the first half had been very good and that they had played real football.

Important Goals and Match Progress

He added that after the break a few problems had arisen. With the first away win under Klopp the DFB eleven can still secure a place in the knockout phase on Monday at Berlin's Olympiastadion. The own goal by Srdan Babic in the 3rd minute and the strike by Florian Wirtz in the 14th minute laid the foundation for the win.

Klopp praises German counterattack as the Oranje celebrates 7-0 win

Debutant Brajan Gruda scored in the 50th minute after the break. Serbian player Srdan Babic equalised in the 56th minute with an own goal. Vanja Dragojevic showed a red card in the 75th minute after a foul on Kimmich.

Team‑mate Andrija Zivkovic also received a red card in the closing stages for complaining. Klopp praised the squad and stressed that every man in the team gave his best. He summed up the match and hailed the performance as a very, very great game.

Impact on the Quarter‑Final

Despite the rain only 70 German fans on the main stand saw the match, but they were satisfied. The simultaneous victory of the Netherlands over Greece made further calculations against the Oranje unnecessary. Another win against the arch‑rival would firmly place Germany in the quarter‑finals of the UEFA competition in March 2027.

Win in Belgrade puts Germany top of Euro qualifying group

Klopp stressed before kickoff on RTL that the goal of qualifying for the final in Berlin was clear. After a corner from Maximilian Mittelstädt Kai Havertz headed the ball onto the goal. In the duel Babic decisively faked out, with Malick Thiaw as centre‑back receiving the starting‑eleven preference over Nico Schlotterbeck. Klopp explained that the English player Thiaw could better intercept the Serbians' long balls.