Nations League: Greece beat Germany 1-0 in Augsburg; Netherlands win 2-1 as Gakpo goes off, Portugal edge Norway 2-1 in Oslo
On 27 September 2026 in the Nations League, Greece defeated Germany 1-0 in Augsburg, spoiling Jürgen Klopp’s debut in the home dugout. The Netherlands secured a 2-1 victory in Serbia but saw Cody Gakpo leave the field injured, while Portugal beat Norway 2-1 in Oslo.
Dimitrios Kourbelis scored the only goal in the 74th minute as Greece recorded their first-ever victory in 11 matches against Germany and moved top of Group A2 with six points from two matches. Ivan Jovanovic’s side’s win followed a last-gasp 2-1 victory over Serbia on Thursday; Klopp’s Germany have one point from two games after drawing 1-1 with the Netherlands on Thursday and sit third in the group.
Germany dominated possession early — the hosts had close to 80% in the first half — but were punished for defensive lapses, particularly after the interval. Konstantinos Tzolakis tipped a Joshua Kimmich free-kick over the bar before Felix Nmecha fired wide in the 54th minute; Fotis Ioannidis, introduced as a substitute, missed a chance in the 66th minute. Kourbelis’s low drive deflected in on 74 minutes to settle the match for Greece.
After the final whistle Klopp downplayed the defeat, telling ARD: “Personally, I’m completely unbothered by it,” and adding, “I’ve lost far more matches in my life than I would have liked … but as long as you draw the right conclusions, a loss is ultimately just a piece of information – no different from a win.” He added: “We absolutely need these kinds of matches – they are exactly the games we wanted to have,” while Kimmich said his new coach “has been very clear about what he wants – as players, we need to implement it”.
In Belgrade Mexx Meerdink scored twice on his second appearance for the Netherlands to earn a 2-1 win, his first under new coach Xavi Hernández after Thursday’s draw with Germany. Meerdink, who plays for the Eredivisie leaders, AZ, opened from the penalty spot in the 30th minute, Luka Jovic levelled for Serbia, and Meerdink struck again in the 69th to restore the lead.
“It’s a boyhood dream,” Meerdink said. “Everything is happening so quickly. You just don’t realise what can happen in the space of a week. It’s also great that we managed to win here. I did feel a little pressure, but you play that out of your system. And then to score two is fantastic.” Cody Gakpo was forced off in the 17th minute and will undergo a scan on Monday; Xavi said: “It’s his ankle, that’s all I know. Tomorrow we will know, but hopefully it’s not too important.”
João Félix scored in the 17th minute and Gonçalo Ramos’s chip in the 57th secured a 2-1 win for Portugal in Oslo after Erling Haaland had equalised in the 54th minute. The result leaves Portugal top of Group A4 with two wins from two matches. Bruno Fernandes was left out of the Portugal squad on Sunday, with Jorge Jesus saying: “He played with an injury he brought from Manchester United,” and adding, “He wasn’t his usual self … [but] he really wanted to play against Wales.”
Greece will host the Netherlands on Thursday and Germany are at home to Serbia, while Portugal stay in Scandinavia for their next fixture, away to Denmark on Thursday; Norway travel to Cardiff to face Wales, who lost 2-0 to Denmark in Copenhagen earlier.
