Klopp Seeks First Germany Win as Nations League Matchday 3 Begins
The third round of Nations League fixtures begins on Thursday, with Jurgen Klopp still searching for a first win as Germany coach and Portugal and Greece both aiming to preserve perfect records.
Four League A matches take place, with Germany hosting Serbia, Greece facing the Netherlands, Denmark meeting Portugal and Wales taking on Norway.
A Difficult Start for Klopp
Klopp's appointment was the headline move of a summer in which ten European nations changed coach after the World Cup. His start has been underwhelming.
Germany drew 1-1 away to Xavi Hernandez's Netherlands in his first competitive match, Felix Nmecha putting them ahead before Cody Gakpo equalised in the second minute of stoppage time. They then lost 1-0 at home to Greece, leaving them with a single point from two games.
Serbia have themselves taken only a point so far, having lost 2-1 at home to Greece on the opening matchday.
Greece, meanwhile, have won both of their fixtures and travel to face a Netherlands side that has drawn one and won one.
Wales Have a Haaland Problem
Wales host Norway with the considerable obstacle of Erling Haaland in their way. The striker scored twice as Norway beat Denmark 3-2 in their opening fixture, and has continued the form that has defined his club season.
Wales lost 1-0 in Lisbon to Portugal on Matchday 1, a game in which Cristiano Ronaldo was wasteful in front of goal. Portugal, the reigning champions and the only nation to have won the competition twice, remain unbeaten and travel to Denmark looking to extend that.
England Await Croatia
England are not in action until Saturday, when they travel to face Croatia in Rijeka.
Thomas Tuchel's side sit third in Group A3 after losing 3-2 at home to world champions Spain, a match in which they led 2-1 through Anthony Gordon and Harry Kane before Alex Baena and Mikel Oyarzabal turned it around. Kane also slipped while taking a penalty and struck it against the bar.
Croatia beat Czechia 2-1 on the same evening. Spain play Czechia on Saturday.
Elsewhere on Thursday, the Republic of Ireland host Austria and Israel face Kosovo in League B. Ireland confirmed earlier in the autumn that they would fulfil their fixtures against Israel despite having called for the country to be banned by UEFA last year.
The current format sees 54 teams spread across four leagues, with the top two from each League A group advancing to quarter-finals in March 2027. The league phase runs through to 17 November, with the remaining matchday of this window on 3 and 4 October before the window closes on 6 October.
