Greece prepares for Germany rematch at Toumba as Jovanović denies Dortmund request

Group lead and the rematch at Toumba

Greece will host Germany at Toumba Stadium in Thessaloniki on Sunday, 4 October 2026, with kickoff scheduled for 21:45 local time. The fixture serves as matchday 4 of UEFA Nations League League A Group 2. Greece currently occupies first place in the group after collecting seven points across their opening three matches. The encounter follows Greece's victory against Germany at the WWK Arena in Augsburg during their previous head-to-head meeting. Head coach Ivan Jovanović stressed during his pre-match press conference that Germany will present a refreshed challenge following their recent victory over Serbia, noting that the opponent did not underestimate Greece in their first meeting.

Fatigue and tactical balance after Netherlands fixture

Managing physical condition remains a primary task for the Greek coaching staff during a compressed international window featuring four matches within two weeks. Jovanović acknowledged that smaller national federations face deeper structural challenges during congested schedules compared to nations with wider player pools. The head coach reviewed the previous fixture against the Netherlands, noting that the squad failed to maintain the standard of their opening half. Jovanović held tactical discussions with the squad to address the loss of balance, confirming that lineup decisions will depend on evaluations during the final training session. Left-back Kostas Tsimikas noted that determination can overcome fatigue, a sentiment Jovanović connected to team morale.

There is fatigue, but we are a team that has worked well. We have good psychology. We are talking to see the readiness level of the players, and based on that we will decide tomorrow's lineup.

Jovanović dismisses Dortmund management claims

The pre-match briefing addressed media reports citing German outlets and Sky Sport that claimed Borussia Dortmund had requested restricted minutes for 18-year-old winger Konstantinos Karetsas. Karetsas started all three of Greece's group fixtures, remaining on the pitch for the full 90 minutes in each contest. Speculation intensified after the player experienced dehydration and collapsed during a recent club match between Borussia Dortmund and Villarreal. Jovanović firmly rejected reports that any club had asked for special arrangements, explaining that the coaching staff maintains weekly contact with clubs and shares physiological data during training camps. Greece must also adjust its forward line in the absence of Christos Tzolis.

There is no request from Dortmund for Karetsas. What applies to Konstantinos applies to all players. As long as I am here, no club has asked for special treatment.

Müller questions German identity and mindset

From the German perspective, former national team forward Thomas Müller offered a critical assessment of the squad's recent trajectory in an interview on the podcast The Late Run. The 37-year-old Vancouver Whitecaps player and 2014 World Cup winner argued that German football has struggled to maintain its traditional identity of fighting until the final whistle. Müller stated that the national team has prioritized attractive play over clinical efficiency in front of goal, leaving the side caught between styles. He expressed confidence in head coach Jürgen Klopp, citing his Premier League experience and ability to integrate young players while managing senior stars.

It seems that somehow we have lost this. Our way of playing is sometimes a bit too pretty, but not effective enough. We are not cold enough in front of goal.