Schweinsteiger hails Arsenal as player Germany miss, says Man Utd star
Bastian Schweinsteiger launched a scathing assessment of the current Germany squad after Greece stunned their hosts in Augsburg, hailing Christos Tzolis as the type of difference‑maker his nation no longer possesses. Dimitrios Kourbelis scored the solitary goal, delivering Germany boss Jurgen Klopp an early setback on home soil. Klopp’s tenure had begun with a 1‑1 draw against the Netherlands in Amsterdam, making this defeat Germany’s first ever loss to Greece.
Schweinsteiger’s blunt verdict
Schweinsteiger, who earned 121 caps and lifted the 2014 World Cup, warned that Germany have slipped from the elite, describing the side as “no longer a top team” and “mired in mediocrity”. He insisted the nation must move away from this state, urging a fresh approach to restore former glories. "We are no longer a top team. We’ve reached mediocrity," the former Manchester United and Bayern Munich midfielder said.
He pointed to Arsenal’s recent summer acquisition as a potential catalyst, alongside Borussia Dortmund’s Konstantinos Karetsas and Benfica’s Vangelis Pavlidis, arguing they embody the impact players Germany lack. "Those who make the difference – if you look at Greece today, if you take Karetsas or Tzolis or Pavlidis up front, those were difference‑makers for me," Schweinsteiger added.
Greece’s decisive win
Dimitrios Kourbelis’s goal secured a historic victory, marking Greece’s first triumph over Germany. The win followed a previous success against Serbia, giving Greece back‑to‑back away victories against high‑quality opponents. Christos Tzolis, beaming after the result, described the feeling as "amazing" and praised the team’s unity.
Schweinsteiger says Germany have sunk into mediocrity under Klopp
"It’s two away games with two wins against very difficult opponents of high quality, especially today," Tzolis said, adding that the performance, while not the best with the ball, showcased great team spirit. He noted Germany had dominated phases but missed a clear chance before the goal, yet remained confident another opportunity would arise.
Klopp’s reaction to the setback
Jurgen Klopp acknowledged the defeat as “not cool” but framed it as part of his broader process. He revealed he had named 44 players across two squads for the current international break, emphasising the need for time to integrate the group. "I could have lived with us not winning but you cannot lose such a game," Klopp remarked.
Klopp also reflected on his earlier statements about criticism, urging detractors to direct their frustrations at him rather than the players. "You can criticise me all you want – just leave my family out of it," he said, insisting that protecting the squad is essential for development.
Klopp's setback: Germany unexpectedly loses to Greece
Looking ahead, Tzolis expressed hope that Germany will eventually adopt a style akin to Jurgen Klopp’s philosophy, suggesting improvements could be visible by November. After the match, both sides faced introspection, with Germany’s coach vowing to rebuild while Greece celebrated a landmark achievement.