Amsterdam’s Johan Cruyff Arena staged a meeting of new international eras on Thursday, as Xavi Hernández began his Netherlands tenure with a 1-1 Nations League draw against Jürgen Klopp’s Germany. Cody Gakpo’s 92nd-minute volley gave the Dutch reward for a performance in which they created the clearer stream of chances, cancelling out Felix Nmecha’s first-half opener.
The match opened Group 2 of League A and brought together two coaches making their first competitive appearances in charge. Germany began more sharply despite losing Jamal Musiala in the warm-up with thigh discomfort. Nadiem Amiri came into Klopp’s starting side, while Karim Adeyemi soon found space down the right but could not make the early German pressure count.
Netherlands gradually imposed themselves through possession and the pace of Crysencio Summerville. Their first apparent breakthrough arrived in the 13th minute, when Virgil van Dijk headed in against his former Liverpool manager Klopp. Spanish referee Alejandro Hernández Hernández ruled that Brian Brobbey had fouled Marc-André ter Stegen, however, and the goal was disallowed.
Ter Stegen, back in the Germany side as the starting goalkeeper, was playing in familiar surroundings. The Barcelona goalkeeper is currently on loan at Ajax, making Amsterdam effectively a temporary home fixture for him.
Germany strike amid Dutch frustration
The overturned goal unsettled the hosts briefly, and Germany made their spell count. Kai Havertz was forced off injured in the 30th minute, with Younes Ebnoutalib taking his place, but Nmecha put the visitors ahead two minutes later. The midfielder reacted to a loose ball and beat Bart Verbruggen to give Klopp’s side the lead.
There was anger from the Netherlands around the move. Brobbey was on the ground during the sequence and the Dutch felt Germany should have put the ball out of play. The striker himself departed injured in the 35th minute, replaced by AZ Alkmaar forward Mexx Meerdink.
Adeyemi then sent a fine opportunity over the bar, but Germany increasingly had to defend their advantage after the interval. Netherlands pressed forward repeatedly and Ter Stegen produced a major stop to deny Denzel Dumfries.
Meerdink thought he had equalised after another Ter Stegen save, only for the referee to rule out the follow-up because of a Van Dijk infringement. The young forward later failed to convert a dangerous Dumfries pass, then was again thwarted by Ter Stegen as Germany tried to ease the Dutch pressure.
Van Bommel creates the late answer
Xavi turned to Ruben van Bommel in the 83rd minute, handing the 22-year-old PSV player his Netherlands debut. Van Bommel, son of former Barcelona midfielder Mark van Bommel, immediately tested Ter Stegen, who turned away his shot.
The debutant would have the decisive influence deep into stoppage time. After Serge Gnabry lost possession in the 92nd minute, Van Bommel drove forward and created the opening for Gakpo, whose volley finally beat Ter Stegen for 1-1.
It prevented what would have been a harsh defeat for a Netherlands side that dominated long stretches of Xavi’s first match at the helm. Mark van Bommel, meanwhile, is due to make his own debut as Belgium coach on Friday against Italy.
