Germany's Philipp Treu speaks ahead of Serbia match: "The group is wide open for us"

Germany right-back Philipp Treu has said that a win against Serbia on Friday would carry his side into a do-or-die match against the Netherlands in Berlin next week.

Jürgen Klopp's first period in charge of the national team brought mixed results. Germany were unable to prevent a late equaliser against the Netherlands and then lost 1-0 at home to Greece.

The 2-0 win over Serbia in Nations League Group A2 brought the Germans back into contention, but the goalless draw in the return fixture away to Greece left their chances of reaching the quarter-finals on a knife-edge.

Germany, who travel to Belgrade on matchday five, have five points and sit three points behind both Greece and the Netherlands.

A defeat in Serbia could see Germany eliminated before the final match. Even if they win, they will still have to get a result against the Netherlands at the Olympiastadion Berlin on Monday to reach the last eight.

For Treu and Klopp's players, however, the most important thing right now is to take it one step at a time.

Speaking to the media, Treu said: "The group is wide open for us. We go into the Serbia match with the desire to win and with the aim of setting up a final in Berlin. That is our only focus right now. We know that no easy match awaits us in Serbia, but we aim to leave the pitch with the result we want."

The 25-year-old Treu was among the players called up to the squad for the first time by Klopp during the last international break, and he made his first three appearances for Germany in that period.

The right-back has started the season in fine form, and his club Freiburg sit third in the Bundesliga. Freiburg remain in the race at the top end of the table despite star midfielder Johan Manzambi having been sold to Aston Villa after last season's Europa League final. Treu ranks second among players with more than five league appearances, with a duel success rate of 77.8 per cent (28 of 36).

Treu, who said he was aware of the competition in the squad, also made no secret of his aim to establish himself in Klopp's starting line-up:

"It is an incredible honour just to be here. It did me a lot of good at the start that I already knew many of the players; Nico Schlotterbeck, for example, gave me a great welcome. The experienced players in particular kept trying to communicate with the newcomers.

"I try to give everything in training. The competition here is at a very high level. We face up to it, and as a team we will benefit from pushing each other forward.

"I think the wide players are given a lot of freedom here. As a full-back, it is extremely important to support the winger with overlapping runs or to open up the channel so he can cut inside. In defence, too, everything depends on the understanding between the two players on the pitch."