Serbia vs Germany Player Ratings: Gruda 9.0/10 as Die Nationalelf Beat Nine-Man Serbia

Quick Summary Table

Serbia were 3-0 down by the 50th minute and finished with nine men. Srdjan Babic turned a Germany corner into his own net on three minutes, Florian Wirtz tapped in a rebound on 14, and Brajan Gruda ran through the Serbia defence for the third. Germany won 3-1 in Belgrade.

Gruda tops the player ratings at 9.0/10 as man of the match, scoring from a 0.05 xG chance after Joshua Kimmich’s pass. Germany led 2.23 to 0.12 on xG at half-time, and Serbia had no shots in the first 25 minutes. Kimmich had a goal ruled out in the 65th minute because Havertz was offside in the goalkeeper’s line of sight.

Babic’s 5.0/10 makes him the worst player on the pitch after the own goal, a foul that gave Germany a dangerous free-kick and a booking, though he also scored Serbia’s goal in the 56th minute. Dragojevic was sent off on 76 after a VAR check, and Zivkovic followed on 89 for dissent. Check out the Serbia vs Germany player ratings.

Germany National Football Team Player Ratings vs Serbia

Have a look at the Germany national football team player ratings from the Serbia vs Germany player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Marc ter Stegen - 7: He had long stretches with little to do, yet stayed switched on. His reflex save from Gudelj’s header at 56 minutes was absolutely vital. Then he denied Mitrovic with a superb tip over into the top corner, showing world-class positioning. Distribution was calm and precise, helping Germany beat Serbia’s press repeatedly. We noticed his communication with the back line looked sharp and authoritative throughout.

Defenders

Malick Thiaw - 7: Thiaw quietly produced a dominant defensive display in the air and on the ground. He won most of his duels and never really looked rushed in possession. A couple of fouls were the price of aggressive defending rather than poor timing. On the ball, his 99% passing summed up his composure under pressure. From our perspective, he handled Serbia’s physical forwards with mature calm.

Jonathan Tah - 7: Tah mixed some big defensive interventions with one glaring attacking miss from a free header. His clearances were decisive, especially when Serbia pumped crosses in after going 3-1 down. We noticed his body language remained relaxed even when Serbia pressed higher. On another night, that headed chance changes the narrative around his performance. Overall though, he anchored the line with strength and decent positioning.

Philipp Treu - 6.5: Treu’s outing felt solid but not spectacular, and at times slightly nervy. He pushed forward with intent, even seeing one shot blocked just before half-time. Defensively, he lost too many duels out wide which left space behind him. Still, his passing was tidy and he rarely forced risky balls in bad zones. Being subbed around 73 minutes felt more like a tactical refresh than a punishment.

Maximilian Mittelstädt - 8: For long stretches he looked like Germany’s playmaker from left-back. His early corner led to pressure before the opening own goal, and he kept delivering smart balls into dangerous areas. We saw him win every duel he contested, which is remarkable for an attacking full-back. His support runs created constant overloads on Serbia’s right flank. In our view, he was one of Germany’s most complete performers on the night.

Midfielders

Joshua Kimmich - 8: Kimmich dictated tempo like a metronome in boots, calmly recycling possession and probing. His assist for Gruda’s long-range strike was classic Kimmich, perfectly weighted and timed. Defensively he chipped in with recoveries and one important block outside the box. We did notice he lost the ball in tight areas a bit more than usual. Still, his leadership and control under pressure were absolutely central to Germany’s dominance.

Aleksandar Pavlovic - 8: For a young midfielder, Pavlovic played with startling maturity between the lines. His passing range was on full show, including the early through ball to Havertz that nearly produced a goal. He continually offered himself as the safe outlet, which stabilised Germany during Serbia’s mini-resurgence. Off the ball, he pressed intelligently and picked up loose second balls. From our perspective he looked like the long-term partner Kimmich has been crying out for.

Florian Wirtz - 8: Wirtz’s goal for 2-0 shifted the entire mood of the match. He constantly found pockets between Serbia’s lines, popping up where defenders hate to turn. Several of his shots were well blocked or saved, but he kept asking questions. His combination play with Gruda and Havertz was delightful at times. We genuinely felt he could have ended with a brace on another night such was his threat.

Brajan Gruda - 9 (Man of the Match): Gruda’s performance had that special electricity you rarely see in an international away game. He tortured Serbia’s back line with relentless dribbles, winning duels all over the right flank. The yellow card for a rash foul showed his intensity sometimes boiled over, but it never killed his momentum. His left-footed rocket from distance for 3-0 was the night’s defining moment. Beyond the goal, his work-rate off the ball impressed us even more. For us, he was unequivocally the highest-rated player on the pitch.

Derry Scherhant - 6.5: Scherhant drifted in and out of the match more than his teammates. He linked nicely at times with Wirtz, even forcing a sharp save with a low effort at 70 minutes. His pressing from the left disturbed Serbia’s build-up, though he did give away some fouls. Losing the ball frequently betrayed his inexperience at this level. Still, his movement was clever and he always looked eager to attack space.

Forwards

Kai Havertz - 6: Havertz’s night summed up as frustrating more than anything. He found good positions, had multiple headed chances, yet his finishing deserted him. We saw his link-up play remain slick, especially when sliding Scherhant and Treu into space. However, two big early misses kept Serbia alive longer than they should have been. Subbed off around 74 minutes, he looked annoyed with himself, which felt understandable.

Substitutes

Ridle Baku - 6.5: Coming on at right-back, Baku added fresh energy and direct running. He helped pin Serbia deeper once they went down to ten men. Defensively he was largely untroubled but stayed engaged, tracking late runs well. We thought his positioning in transition was slightly conservative, understandably so with the scoreline. A tidy cameo that shored up Germany’s control.

Tom Bischof - 6.5: Bischof slotted into midfield and immediately looked comfortable receiving under pressure. He kept his passing simple, almost risk-free, which helped Germany close the match out. There were a couple of miscontrols, but nothing costly in dangerous zones. We noticed his eagerness to press high even in the closing stages. A promising, if quiet, introduction at this level.

Niclas Füllkrug - 6.5: Füllkrug provided exactly what you expect, a physical reference point up front. His hold-up play gave Germany an outlet when they went more direct late on. He did not see much in terms of clear chances, which slightly limited his impact. Still, his presence alone unsettled a tiring Serbian defence. From our perspective his cameo was functional and unselfish.

Felix Nmecha - 6: Nmecha was introduced late to add legs in midfield and press Serbia’s build-up. He managed a couple of neat forward passes but mostly played within himself. We did not see many trademark driving runs from deep tonight. That said, he helped Germany maintain compactness between the lines. A steady cameo rather than a statement performance.

Manager

J. Klopp - 8: Klopp set his Germany side up to press smartly rather than recklessly. The balance between youth and experience in midfield worked brilliantly. His decision to trust Pavlovic and Gruda paid off in spectacular fashion. Substitutions arrived at good moments, just as Serbia threatened to build momentum. From our perspective, the game plan and in-game management justified the strong rating.

Serbia National Football Team Player Ratings vs Germany

Here are the Serbia national football team player ratings from the Serbia vs Germany player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Vanja Milinković-Savić - 6.5: He conceded three, yet we actually felt he saved Serbia from a heavier defeat. His stop from Havertz in the 14th minute kept the score manageable early on. Later, he denied Wirtz and Scherhant with excellent positioning and strong hands. Distribution under pressure was hit-and-miss, with too many hopeful long balls. Overall though, he was not the main problem for Serbia tonight.

Defenders

Kosta Nedeljkovic - 6: Nedeljkovic fought hard but got overloaded constantly down his flank. His tackling numbers look good, yet Germany repeatedly isolated him one-versus-one. In possession he kept it simple and avoided major errors. We did notice some hesitation stepping out to press Wirtz between the lines. A tough night against high-level opposition, but not a disastrous one.

Nikola Milenković - 5.5: Milenković never quite looked comfortable against Germany’s movement. He conceded several cheap fouls in dangerous areas that invited pressure. There was one bad miss from a set piece which could have changed the momentum. His clearances often felt rushed and lacked direction. From our view, he was one of Serbia’s weaker performers at the back.

Stefan Gudelj - 6: Gudelj had a very mixed night, full of commitment but short on composure. He gave away early corners yet later forced ter Stegen into a strong save with a header. Defensively, he threw himself into tackles, sometimes over-committing and getting bypassed. We appreciated his fight, but positionally he left gaps between full-back and centre-back. A performance that reflected Serbia’s defensive chaos overall.

Srdjan Babic - 5: Rating him was honestly difficult. The early own goal was catastrophic, putting Serbia immediately on the back foot. Later, he scored at the right end to make it 3-1 and briefly lift the crowd. Defensively he alternated between strong duels and clumsy fouls, including a yellow card. We felt his body language fluctuated wildly, from frustration to defiance. Overall the early mistake weighs heavier, so his rating stays low.

Petar Sukacev - 5.5: Sukacev battled hard but looked overwhelmed by Germany’s rotations on his side. He dribbled forward bravely a few times, trying to relieve pressure. However, his passing accuracy was poor, and several turnovers put Serbia under pressure again. The injury break around 65 minutes seemed to disrupt his rhythm further. From our perspective, his effort was high but his influence limited.

Midfielders

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic - 6: Milinkovic-Savic never truly imposed himself on the game. We expected him to dominate aerially, but Germany largely neutralised that threat. His passing felt rushed, with too many hopeful balls into crowded areas. Defensively he worked back and won a couple of strong tackles. Still, he looked frustrated and slightly isolated between lines for much of the night.

Lazar Samardžić - 6: Samardžić struggled to get on the ball in meaningful zones before his substitution. He tried to knit play together but Serbia’s transitions were too disjointed. We barely saw his usual long-range shooting threat. Defensively he tracked back but could not stop Germany’s midfield rotations. Being replaced at half-time felt like a tactical adjustment rather than a pure indictment.

Stefan Dzodic - 6: Dzodic showed flashes of composure, including a blocked shot from inside the box. His passing numbers were modest yet he tried to inject verticality when possible. Defensively he occasionally stepped in well but also got bypassed by sharp one-twos. Coming off at half-time was partly about chasing the game. From our vantage point, he neither solved nor created Serbia’s midfield issues.

Forwards

Dusan Tadic - 7: Even in a struggling team, Tadic’s quality remained obvious. He produced two or three genuinely incisive passes that should have led to better finishes. His cross for Gudelj’s header tested ter Stegen properly. We noticed him dropping deeper to help build play as Serbia’s midfield faltered. Eventually substituted, probably due to fatigue, but he was clearly their main creator.

Mihajlo Cvetkovic - 5.5: Cvetkovic worked very hard pressing from the front, yet lacked composure in key moments. He missed a good chance around 59 minutes that could have reignited the contest. On the ball he lost possession too cheaply, inviting counters. Still, his movement did at least stretch Germany’s back line occasionally. Overall though, he fell short of the required clinical edge.

Substitutes

Andrija Zivkovic - 6.5: Zivkovic brought some much-needed width and quality crosses after coming on. His delivery for Mitrovic’s header was excellent and almost produced a goal. He tried to run at Mittelstädt but often found little support around him. Defensively he tracked back with decent discipline down the flank. In our view, he was one of Serbia’s better impact substitutes.

Vanja Dragojevic - 4.5: Dragojevic’s cameo turned disastrous with his VAR-upgraded red card. Before that he had tried to bring some bite into midfield, but mistimed challenges betrayed his impatience. The dismissal effectively ended any realistic Serbian comeback. We felt his inexperience showed, especially in reading the referee’s tolerance level. A night he will want to forget quickly.

Aleksandar Mitrovic - 6.5: Mitrovic immediately gave Serbia a focal point they had been missing. His powerful header forced a sharp save from ter Stegen. He battled with Tah and Thiaw, winning his share of physical duels. However, supply into him remained sporadic, limiting his impact. From our perspective, he still looked dangerous whenever the ball reached him.

Vladimir Lucic - 6: Lucic came on to add energy and support around the forwards. He pressed Kimmich aggressively but struggled to win many clean balls. On the ball, he kept things simple with short passes and quick layoffs. We did not see enough creativity to change the game’s pattern. A willing runner, yet ultimately a peripheral figure.

Manager

V. Paunovic - 5.5: Paunovic’s game plan unravelled almost immediately after the early own goal. Serbia looked tactically stretched, unsure whether to press high or sit deeper. His half-time changes improved things slightly, especially introducing Zivkovic and later Mitrovic. However, the structure still never fully contained Germany’s wide threats. From our perspective, he reacted more than he proactively shaped the contest.