Germany slipped to a thrilling 3-2 defeat to Turkey as Julian Nagelsmann saw his side’s stuttering build up to Euro 2024 continue.
The 36-year-old lost his first game as Germany manager after Yusuf Sari’s second-half penalty won it for the visitors.
Kai Havertz gave the hosts an early lead in the friendly, but Ferdi Kadioglu and Kenan Yildiz gave Turkey a 2-1 half time advantage.
Niclas Fullkrug’s 10th goal in 12 games for his country levelled soon after the break at the Olympiastadion.
Hansi Flick was sacked just nine months before next year’s home European Championship with Nagelsmann attempting to pick up the pieces.
A win over the USA and a draw with Mexico in his first games last month would have given him food for thought.
His early tenure looked to be going well on Saturday when Arsenal’s Havertz, playing in an unfamiliar left-back role, opened the scoring after six minutes when he fired in from Leroy Sane’s cutback.
But Turkey, who have already qualified, refused to crumble and Yusuf Yazici and Yildiz went close, either side of Sane shooting wide for Germany.
Yazici had a shot blocked before Turkey levelled when Kadioglu rifled past Kevin Trapp after losing Sane and they went into the break ahead when Yildiz rammed in at the far post in first-half stoppage time.
Germany, without the injured Jamal Musiala, Emre Can and Christian Gunter, came out fighting in the second half and were level five minutes after the restart.
The hosts hit Turkey on the break and Florian Wirtz supplied Fullkrug to drill in low to equalise in Berlin.
But the visitors almost regained the lead immediately when Dortmund midfielder Salih Ozcan hit a post.
The relentless pace continued and captain Ilkay Gundogan had a shot blocked on the hour before Turkey took the lead for a second time.
A VAR check was needed to confirm a handball by Havertz in the area and Sari buried the penalty with 19 minutes remaining.
Serge Gnabry came close to a leveller with three minutes left but he was unable to get the final touch on Benjamin Henrichs’ cross.
Julian Nagelsmann feels Germany’s rebuild ahead of hosting Euro 2024 cannot just be done from the back.
Germany face Turkey in a friendly on Saturday night in Berlin at the Olympiastadion, where the final of next summer’s showpiece tournament will be played.
Former boss Hansi Flick was sacked after an early exit at the World Cup was followed by a five-game winless run which ended with a 4-1 defeat by Japan in Wolfsburg.
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Nagelsmann took over Die Mannschaft ahead of the tour to the United States during October, with his side going on to beat the hosts 3-1 and draw 2-2 with Mexico.
The former RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich head coach accepts tightening up in defence will be key to hopes of making an impact on home soil next summer – but stressed it must not be his squad’s only focus.
“We want to have good (defensive) stability. There are moments when we want to give up less space to the opponents. We want to defend highly, but also give less space for balls behind our line,” Nagelsmann said.
“With a view to the Euros, a good defence is important, but we will not seek our salvation only on the defensive.
“We want to become even more dominant in the game to reduce the time we have to defend.”
Nagelsmann confirmed goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen would be returning to Barcelona as he deals with “acute back pain”, so will also not be available for next week’s trip to Austria.
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Manuel Neuer is working his way back to full fitness with Bayern following almost a year in recovery after breaking his leg while skiing.
Nagelsmann feels the 37-year-old should be allowed all the time he needs to get fully match fit and not face any extra pressure of a swift recall back to the national team.
“Anyone who listened to the reasons explaining the decision (not to call him up) can answer the question itself, why it has made sense not to nominate him (for the current squad),” Nagelsmann told a press conference.
“There are reasons that he has stayed at home and that is why a call-up now makes no sense.
“Manu has played a top role since his return and he should be allowed to continue.
“Afterwards, then at the Euros, the players who perform will play.”
Mats Hummels, a World Cup winner in 2014, should be involved after the Borussia Dortmund defender returned to training following his own back issue.
Germany captain Ilkay Gundogan is set to face his parent’s home nation for the first time.
The Gelsenkirchen-born Barcelona midfielder said: “It will be a very special game for me, no question about it.
“My grandparents, parents and other relatives still live in Turkey in Izmir, and of course I also have many friends there.
“I am really looking forward to it and I hope for a great football festival.”
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Turkey have already qualified for next summer’s finals, sitting top of Group D and will head to Wales next week for their last fixture.
New head coach Vincenzo Montella will be without captain Hakan Calhanoglu, who is recovering from a respiratory infection while his wife is also about to give birth to their child.
Fenerbahce winger Cengiz Under is another who did not travel to Germany as he continues to manage various fitness issues.
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