Germany v Serbia
Wirtz scores as Klopp gets first win as Germany coach
New Germany manager Jürgen Klopp got his first win with a 2-0 Nations League victory over Serbia in Munich on Thursday.
Ex-Liverpool boss Klopp had started his tenure with a draw in their Group A2 opener against the Netherlands before slipping to a shock home defeat to Greece in Augsburg.
Germany, though, built on a strong start at the Allianz Arena after Bayern Munich midfielder Tom Bischof fired in his first international goal five minutes before halftime.
Liverpool forward Florian Wirtz added a second in the 61st minute with a neat finish in the box as Klopp's new-look side closed out a morale-boosting win.
With regular captain Joshua Kimmich one of those allowed to leave the camp following the first two games, Bayern forward Serge Gnabry took the armband, while goalkeeper Jonas Urbig started at his home stadium.
Germany came out on the front foot, with Aleksandar Pavlovic curling an early shot just off target before Nick Woltemade planted his close-range header well wide in the 11th minute.
Serbia, beaten by both Greece and Netherlands, continued to sit deep and were soon opened up again when Wirtz played in Gnabry and his angled shot flew past the far post.
Germany continued to press, with Gnabry and Wirtz both denied by reaction saves from Djordje Petrovic.
Despite soaking up so much pressure, Serbia almost snatched the lead against the run of play when Kosta Nedeljkovic just failed to connect with a pass through the Germany box.
Bayern midfielder Bischof eventually broke the deadlock shortly before the break.
Wirtz made space for a shot in a crowded penalty area and, after the ball came back off the foot of a post, Bischof was alert to fire in the rebound.
Said El Mala replaced Gnabry for the second half to make his international debut.
The Cologne forward saw an effort deflected behind and Woltemade sent his shot over the crossbar before Germany did double their lead just after the hour.
Maximilian Mittelstädt broke down the left and towards the edge of the Serbia area before slipping a pass through to Wirtz.
The Liverpool forward, who took on the armband for the second half, dragged the ball back to create space from Serbia defender Srdan Babic before guiding his shot into the far corner.
Klopp made some more changes during the closing stages, with Celtic midfielder Mika Baur, 22, one of those coming on, replacing Bischof, to become the 1,000th player to feature for Germany.