Germany held scoreless by Greece in hotly-contested stalemate
| Photo: Maja Hitij/Getty Images. |
In front of a hostile atmosphere at Toumba Stadium, home of club side PAOK, Germany were held to a scoreless 0-0 draw in the heat of Thessaloniki. Jürgen Klopp's side bossed the opening half but failed to take their chances as Greece stood firm on home soil.
Germany knew they were in a game from the first whistle this evening. Jonas Urbig was called into action early to keep out Georgios Masouras' dipping header. However, that would prove to be the home side's only effort of the entire first-half of play.
Led by the brilliance of Derry Scherhant on the left wing, the DFB-elf started to take control. Aside from Florian Wirtz going close, the SC Freiburg talent forced Konstantinos Tzolakis into a smart save, followed by another after after Tom Bischof teed up David Raum.
With the midfield trio of Wirtz, Pavlović and Bischof orchestrating play, Germany appeared to take the lead when Sherhant bet his man and fizzed in a cross for Jonathan Burkardt to convert. Frustratingly, arbiter Clement Turpin consulted VAR to chalk off the goal.
Bischof's rather unfortunate handball proved to be the deciding factor, but Germany were not disheartened as Sherhant led the charge. Greece turned to their bench at the break, introducing Dortmund gem Karetsas and Androutsos for Pavlidis and Kyziridis.
The re-jig gave Ivan Jovanović's side some increased presence in midfield. Tensions were high as both sides committed to meaty challenges at either end of the pitch. Klopp swiftly turned to Said El Mala and Nick Woltemade just past the hour mark.
Jovanović's tactical tweaks during the interval undoubtedly restricted Germany's flow as the clock ticked on. After Masouras failed to threaten from another cross, Klopp's final roll of the dice saw Mika Baur and Bambasé Conté take over from Bischof and a tiring Scherhant.
Ultimately, all four substitutes made little impact for Germany late on with weary legs on both teams. Their night in Thessaloniki was summed up late on when David Raum's ball fell to the unmarked Treu at the back post. The full-back agonizingly skied his effort over the bar.
