Schweinsteiger Gives Very Strong Take Germany After Klopp's Games
Former Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger gave a very strong take on the national side after Jurgen Klopp’s first two games in charge, saying the team has slipped into mediocrity. The criticism came on the same day the former player’s background – a 2016 history degree from the University of Southampton – was highlighted.
Klopp’s shaky start
After graduating in 2016, Schweinsteiger joined the company as an Academy member in July 2017. He worked briefly as a freelancer before being offered a full‑time role in February 2018. His progression from university graduate to full‑time journalist reflects a rapid rise within the organisation.
He now covers the biggest stories in football, but his remit also spans darts, golf, Formula 1, tennis, boxing and athletics. This breadth allows him to bring a multi‑sport perspective to his football analysis. Schweinsteiger’s versatility is often praised by editors.
Klopp’s tenure with Germany began amid high expectations, yet his first match ended in a 1‑1 draw with the Netherlands at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam. Cody Gakpo’s stoppage‑time strike denied Germany a win. The result left the side without a victory in their opening game.
The following weekend Germany travelled to the WWK Arena in Augsburg to face Greece. A solitary goal from Dimitrios Kourbelis handed Greece a 1‑0 win, marking the first time Germany have ever lost to the Greek side. The defeat left Germany second‑lowest in Group B.
Schweinsteiger says Germany have sunk into mediocrity under Klopp
Schweinsteiger’s blunt assessment
Schweinsteiger tore the national team apart after the Greek loss, telling ARD presenter Esther Sedlaczek: “We’re no longer a top team, we’ve settled into mediocrity. We haven’t managed to put pressure on the opponent.” He added that Germany no longer have players who make the difference, naming Konstantinos Karetsas, Christos Tzolis and Vangelis Pavlidis as examples.
He also highlighted Karim Adeyemi, saying the forward was good on the day but is currently used at Barcelona in a way that exploits his speed, a role that has not yet been replicated for Germany. Schweinsteiger argued that without such utilisation the team cannot dominate.
Despite the harsh words, Schweinsteiger refused to single out Klopp, stating: “Jurgen Klopp – and it’s the right thing to do – has to look at everyone who could be considered, in order to develop a team that will then play Jurgen Klopp’s style of football. Hopefully we’ll see that in November.” He added that Klopp is still finding his feet and that expectations of a 4‑0 victory were unrealistic.
Reactions and the road ahead
Germany captain Joshua Kimmich responded, saying: “That has to be said. What distinguishes a team like that is that they beat supposedly weaker opponents, and we have not done that. We did not beat the Netherlands and lost today, but that is not decisive right now.”
Klopp's setback: Germany unexpectedly loses to Greece
Klopp will look to claim his first win when Germany host Serbia at the Allianz Arena in Munich on Thursday. The side sit third in Nations League Group B, behind Greece and the Netherlands, and need points to climb the table.
The analysis was posted as a thread, logged here to give content and show how the discussion unfolded, like many fan‑driven breakdowns. Fans will be watching closely to see whether the criticism translates into tactical changes.