Jurgen Klopp and Xavi made their long-awaited debuts as managers of the Germany and Netherlands national teams, delivering a match filled with dramatic moments.
The German squad suffered an early blow even before kickoff, losing Jamal Musiala during the warm-up, a concerning development given the player’s recent history. Consequently, the visitors spent much of the first half defending. In the 13th minute, the ball found the back of the net behind Marc-Andre ter Stegen after a corner, with Virgil van Dijk heading it in. However, after a VAR review, the goal was disallowed due to a goalkeeper obstruction involving Bryan Brobbey.
The visitors showed patience, and the pivotal moment of the first half arrived in the 32nd minute. While Brobbey was down on the pitch nursing a hamstring injury in midfield, Germany pressed on with their attack. Felix Nmecha capitalized by slotting the ball into an empty net, putting the Germans ahead 1-0.
After the break, the hosts launched an intense siege on the German goal. Jurrien Timber cleverly set up Denzel Dumfries one-on-one with the keeper, who then fired a close-range shot that ter Stegen astonishingly saved—twice in quick succession. In the 66th minute, Timber attempted to finish a cross from the right flank but just missed connecting, despite the ball seemingly having nowhere else to go.
At this point, Xavi took a gamble by introducing the young van Bommel, a decision that ultimately proved crucial. In the 92nd minute, van Bommel cleanly won the ball in midfield, surged down the left wing, and delivered a perfect outside-foot diagonal pass to Cody Gakpo. The Netherlands had a chance to snatch victory, but in the 95th minute, Thiel headed just wide of the far post.
The match ended in a 1-1 draw, with both Netherlands and Germany earning a point each as the new UEFA Nations League cycle got underway. On September 27, Germany will host Greece, while the Dutch travel to Serbia.
UEFA Nations League 2026-27
Netherlands 1–1 Germany (0–1)
Goals: F. Nmecha 32 (0–1); Gakpo 92 (1–1)
Netherlands: Verbruggen; Dumfries; van Hecke; van Dijk; van de Ven; Gravenberch R.; Reinders (Thiel G., 83); Summerville (van Bommel R., 83); Brobbey (Merdink, 35); Gakpo; Timber K. (Veerman J., 57)
Substitutions: Merdink (from 35); Veerman J. (from 57); Thiel G. (from 83); van Bommel R. (from 83)
Reserves: Ruufs; Flecken; Gertruda; Hato; Ake; Frimpong J.; Koopmeiners T.; Lang N.
Yellow cards: Timber K. 22; van Hecke 24; Dumfries 68; van Dijk 69
Germany: ter Stegen; Troy; Braun; Ta J.; Schlotterbeck N.; Kimmich; Havertz (Ebnutalib, 30); F. Nmecha (Stach, 64); Amiri N. (Engelhardt, 80); Adeyemi K. (Gnabry, 80); Shade (Fuerich, 64)
Substitutions: Ebnutalib (from 30); Stach (from 64); Fuerich (from 64); Engelhardt (from 80); Gnabry (from 80)
Reserves: Damen F.; Nubel; Rosenfelder; Bissek; Wagnoman; Berens
Yellow cards: Amiri N. 68
