Greece 1-0 Germany: Kourbelis, Tzolakis and the Night the Ethniki Finally Beat the Germans
| The result in 30 seconds | Detail |
|---|---|
| Score | Greece 1-0 Germany - Sunday 27 September 2026, WWK Arena, Augsburg |
| Goal | Dimitris Kourbelis 74' - a deflected left-footed drive, eight minutes after coming on |
| History | Greece's first win over Germany in 11 meetings (7 defeats, 3 draws before it) |
| Group A2 | Greece are second on 8 points from 4 games, level with the Netherlands, who lead the group on goals scored; Germany are third on 5 |
Next up: Greece drew 2-2 with the Netherlands at the Toumba on 1 October 2026 - two goals up inside 45 minutes through Fotis Ioannidis and Giorgos Masouras, then pegged back by Virgil van Dijk and a Tijjani Reijnders equaliser in the 89th. The reverse fixture came at the same ground on Sunday 4 October and finished 0-0 - Jonathan Burkardt had a goal ruled out for a handball in the build-up after a VAR review, and Konstantinos Tzolakis kept a clean sheet - so Greece closed the window unbeaten on eight points from four, four of them taken off Germany. The Netherlands' 2-1 win over Serbia the same night leaves the group level at the top on eight, with the Dutch first on goals scored, seven to five, and Germany third on five. Greece go to the Johan Cruijff Arena to face the Netherlands on Friday 13 November (19:45 UTC) and host Serbia at the Toumba on Monday 16 November. We refresh this page with both results too.
Greece 1-0 Germany, Augsburg. Dimitris Kourbelis' 74th-minute strike - deflected off Joshua Kimmich - gave Greece the first win in their history against Germany, at the eleventh attempt. Add their last-gasp 2-1 win in Serbia on Matchday 1 and Ivan Jovanovic's side, promoted from League B through the play-offs, lead Group A2 with six points from six. This is the story of how they did it, and what it says about the newest problem in German football.
The Plan: Sit Deep, Stay Patient, Strike Late
Germany had the ball for close to 80 per cent of the first half and almost nothing to show for it. Greece defended in a compact block, gave up possession in the zones that do not hurt, and waited. Konstantinos Tzolakis tipped over Kimmich's free-kick on 53 minutes and had already denied Karim Adeyemi with a fine save on 31. Up the other end, Konstantinos Karetsas and Andreas Tettei carried the threat on the counter - Greece's plan was never to outplay Germany, it was to make the game boring and then win it late.
Jovanovic's Two Substitutions Changed the Match
On 59 minutes Jovanovic sent on Kourbelis and Fotis Ioannidis. Three minutes later Vangelis Pavlidis stripped Kimmich of the ball in his own half and Ioannidis dragged his shot wide of the far post - the warning shot. On 74 the same trio finished it: Pavlidis switched play to Christos Tzolis on the left, Tzolis delivered low into the box, and Kourbelis stepped past his man and fired in a deflected left-footed drive that beat Alexander Nubel. Greece had six minutes of stoppage time to survive, and did.
Six Points, Two Wins, One Very Awkward Group
Greece's Matchday 1 was not a fluke either: 2-1 in Serbia, Tzolis levelling on 73 and Anastasios Douvikas winning it in the 94th. Six points from two games, and the 2004 European champions now lead a section containing Germany, the Netherlands and Serbia. The Netherlands then took a point off them in Thessaloniki - 2-2, two second-half Dutch goals wiping out that 2-0 half-time lead - so Greece go into the 4 October return against Germany still top of Group A2 on seven points. Every table and fixture lives on our Nations League standings page.
It finished 0-0 at the Toumba on 4 October - Burkardt had a goal ruled out for a handball in the build-up - so Greece are unbeaten on eight points from four and level with the Netherlands, who lead Group A2 on goals scored.
Why This Is Repeatable, Not a Fluke
Two wins in four days, built two completely different ways. In Belgrade on Matchday 1 Greece went behind, stayed in the game and won it in the 94th minute through a substitute. In Augsburg they conceded the ball entirely, defended a compact block, watched Konstantinos Tzolakis tip a Kimmich free-kick over the bar and deny Karim Adeyemi, then won it in the 74th minute through - again - a substitute. That is not luck twice; that is a team with a plan for both kinds of match and a coach who changes games from the bench. The uncomfortable part for Germany is the direction of travel: Greece are playing tournament football in September, while a squad a week old is still looking for patterns.
Our Read: Five Shirts, One Historic Night
Greece is one of the smallest national shelves we run - five shirts total - and after a night like this it does not stay still. The Greece 2026 home shirt in white at $45.90 is the one this team wears now; the 2025/26 home and blue away are both $38.90 if you want the shirt of the generation that got them promoted. We are honest about the gap: this is not a 191-item Spain rack. It is five shirts, and right now they are the most interesting five in the group.
By the Numbers
| Number | What it says |
|---|---|
| Matches to a first win over Germany | 11 - after seven defeats and three draws |
| Points from four games | 8 — two wins and two draws, still unbeaten in Group A2 |
| Minute of the winner | 74 - Kourbelis had been on the pitch for eight minutes |
| German first-half possession | Close to 80 per cent - and almost nothing inside the box |
What a Greece Shirt Costs
| Greece shirt | Why this one | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Greece 2026 home shirt (white) | The shirt of this win | $45.90 |
| Greece home shirt 2025/26 | The promotion-era home | $38.90 |
| Greece away shirt 2025/26 (blue) | The change shirt | $38.90 |
| Greece 2026 youth home | Kids' version of the 2026 home | $45.90 |
| Greece home shirt 2024/25 | Cheapest way in | $38.90 |
Shop Greece - The Whole Shelf, Five Shirts
What was the Greece vs Germany score?
Greece won 1-0 in Augsburg on Sunday 27 September 2026, Dimitris Kourbelis scoring the only goal in the 74th minute with a deflected left-footed shot.
Was this Greece's first win over Germany?
Yes. It was Greece's first victory in 11 meetings with Germany, having lost seven and drawn three of the previous ten. It also spoiled Jurgen Klopp's home debut as Germany coach.
Who scored and who assisted Greece's winner?
Dimitris Kourbelis scored, eight minutes after coming off the bench. Vangelis Pavlidis switched play to Christos Tzolis, whose low cross from the left found Kourbelis inside the area.
Who is Greece's coach and how did they qualify for League A?
Ivan Jovanovic. Greece were promoted to League A as play-off winners after the 2024/25 campaign, and have now won their opening two matches of the 2026/27 edition.
What is Greece's position in Nations League Group A2?
Second, level with the Netherlands on eight points from four games. Greece drew 0-0 with Germany at Toumba on 4 October after beating Serbia 2-1 and Germany 1-0, and the Netherlands lead the group only on goals scored, seven to Greece's five. Germany are third on five points and Serbia are bottom on zero.
How many Greece jerseys does Pro Sports Kit stock?
Five: the 2026 home shirt in white, the 2025/26 home, the blue away, the youth home and the 2024/25 home - all in stock and dispatching during the international window.
How did Greece beat Germany tactically?
Greece defended a deep, compact block, let Germany have close to 80 per cent of first-half possession, and attacked in short bursts. Konstantinos Tzolakis saved from Karim Adeyemi and tipped over a Joshua Kimmich free-kick before Ivan Jovanovic's 59th-minute substitutions produced the 74th-minute winner.
What did Greece do in their first two Nations League games?
They beat Serbia 2-1 in Belgrade on Matchday 1 - Christos Tzolis equalising on 73 minutes and Anastasios Douvikas winning it in the 94th - then beat Germany 1-0 in Augsburg through Dimitris Kourbelis on 74 minutes. Six points, top of Group A2.
When do Greece and Germany play again?
Greece travel to the Netherlands on 13 November 2026 and host Serbia on 16 November. Germany's next fixtures are away to Serbia on 13 November and at home to the Netherlands on 16 November.
Sources & method: Primary match data from UEFA's Matchday 2 round-up and match centre, with quotes and detail cross-checked against The Greek Herald, Reuters (via The Straits Times) and L'Arena. Prices verified against live store inventory on 28 September 2026.
