Klopp Earns First Germany Win as Portugal Thrive Without Ronaldo

Jurgen Klopp finally has his first victory as Germany manager. After two frustrating matches without a win, his rebuilt side delivered a convincing 2-0 Nations League result against Serbia on Thursday, easing pressure on the high-profile coach who took charge with enormous expectations attached.

Klopp responded to the previous defeat against Greece by overhauling his starting lineup entirely, a bold move that signalled both his dissatisfaction with the earlier performance and his willingness to test fresh options. Among the new faces were goalkeeper Jonas Urbig and winger Derry Scherhant, both of whom were handed senior international debuts in a significant vote of confidence.

Germany dictated the tempo from the opening whistle, pressing Serbia back and generating a steady stream of chances. Yet for all their territorial dominance, the breakthrough took time. It arrived in the 39th minute when Florian Wirtz, increasingly the creative heartbeat of this team, threaded a pass to Tom Bischof, who marked only his second cap with a first senior international goal.

The hosts could have extended their advantage earlier in the second period when Nick Woltemade squandered a clear opportunity at the back post, a miss that briefly threatened to keep Serbia within reach. Wirtz removed any lingering doubt just past the hour mark, collecting the ball on the edge of the area and finishing with composure to make it 2-0.

For Klopp, the result ends an uncomfortable wait that had followed his return to club-style management on the international stage. Victory at the third attempt will come as considerable relief, and on the balance of play his team were fully deserving of the three points, controlling possession and limiting Serbia's attacking threat for long stretches.

Elsewhere in the same competition, Portugal showed they can function without their most famous player. Playing their first match since Cristiano Ronaldo walked out on the squad and cast doubt over his international future, the Portuguese travelled to Denmark and emerged with a 4-2 victory that keeps them perfect in Group A4 with nine points from three games.

Portugal's performance was far from straightforward. Joao Cancelo and Goncalo Ramos gave the visitors a two-goal cushion across the first half, but Denmark responded each time, with Mikkel Damsgaard and Rasmus Hojlund finding equalisers that kept the contest alive and exposed defensive lapses in Jorge Jesus' setup.

Rather than folding, Portugal reasserted control. Vitinha restored the lead in the 67th minute, and Joao Felix sealed the outcome with a late fourth, a finish that flattered the visitors slightly but rewarded their persistence in a hostile away environment. The six-point gap at the top of the table reflects both their quality and their ability to cope with the disruption caused by Ronaldo's abrupt departure.

The Netherlands produced the comeback of the night, recovering from two goals down to draw 2-2 away to Greece. The hosts looked on course for a third win from three matches after Fotis Ioannidis and Giorgios Masouras struck in the first half, capitalising on a Dutch side that struggled to find rhythm before the interval.

Virgil van Dijk pulled one back just before the hour, powering his team back into contention, and the visitors continued to press for an equaliser as the match wore on. The reward came a minute from the end through Tijjani Reijnders, a goal that preserved the Netherlands' unbeaten campaign and denied Greece a statement result they had largely earned.

Wales also enjoyed a productive evening, defeating 10-man Norway 2-1 thanks to goals from Dan James and Neco Williams. The win gave Wales their first points of the campaign and offered a timely boost after a difficult start to the group stage, while Norway were left to rue the dismissal that shaped the contest.

In League B, the meeting between Ireland and Austria in Dublin was briefly halted when tennis balls were thrown onto the pitch. The protest targeted the Irish side's participation in a previous fixture against Israel, reflecting wider political tension that has followed the team's scheduling.

Play resumed after the interruption, and Ireland were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw despite two goals from Troy Parrott. The result leaves Ireland still searching for momentum, and their next fixture adds another layer of complexity: a nominal home game against Israel that will be staged behind closed doors in neutral Serbia.

Taken together, the night's results illustrate how quickly fortunes can shift in international football. Klopp's Germany appear to have turned a corner, Portugal have demonstrated resilience in the absence of their talisman, and the Netherlands showed the value of refusing to accept defeat, while political and logistical complications continue to shadow the competition for several nations.