Amsterdam’s Johan Cruyff Arena opened the new Nations League campaign with two new figures on the touchline and an early German advantage on the pitch, as Felix Nmecha’s 32nd-minute goal gave Germany a 1-0 lead over the Netherlands at the interval. Xavi Hernández began his Netherlands tenure against Jürgen Klopp’s Germany, while Marc-André ter Stegen returned for the visitors after a long injury absence in a city that has become his new home.
Before kick-off, the stadium observed a minute’s silence for Bartina Koeman, who died on 16 September after a cancer illness lasting more than a decade. Around 55,000 spectators were expected for the Group A2 meeting, refereed by Spain’s Alejandro Hernández, with Carlos del Cerro Grande on VAR duty.
The Dutch started with Bart Verbruggen behind a defence of Denzel Dumfries, Jan Paul van Hecke, Virgil van Dijk and Micky van de Ven. Ryan Gravenberch, Jurrien Timber and Tijjani Reijnders formed the midfield, with Crysencio Summerville, Brian Brobbey and Cody Gakpo leading the attack. Germany selected Ter Stegen; Brown, Jonathan Tah, Nico Schlotterbeck and Treu; Nmecha, Jamal Musiala and Joshua Kimmich; plus Kevin Schade, Kai Havertz and Karim Adeyemi.
Germany pressed high in the opening stages, though the Netherlands soon found threat in the wide areas. Timber sent an early low effort wide, while Summerville’s cross was gathered by Ter Stegen. Reijnders also appealed for a penalty after a shot struck a German defender, but the ball had hit a thigh rather than an arm.
A disallowed Dutch celebration and two forced changes
Van Dijk appeared to put the hosts ahead from a tightly delivered corner in the 12th minute, glancing the ball on at the near post. The goal did not survive review, however, as Brobbey was judged to have fouled Ter Stegen while challenging the goalkeeper.
The contest became more difficult for both sides before the half-hour. Timber was booked for a heavy challenge on Havertz, and Van Hecke followed into the book after fouling Schade. Havertz then required treatment on a thigh problem and was replaced by Ebnoutalib in the 30th minute. Brobbey also had to leave with a muscular complaint shortly after the German goal, with Meerdink sent on in his place.
Germany took the lead during the disruption. Adeyemi met a low ball from the right but saw his close-range attempt blocked; Nmecha reacted quickest to the loose ball and drove the rebound into the net. Adeyemi should have doubled the lead five minutes later when Brown led a rapid break and squared the ball across the area, but the forward lifted his finish over the crossbar.
Ter Stegen kept Germany in front before the interval after first misplacing a pass to Gakpo, then recovering his position to save the Dutchman’s shot. Summerville headed a Dumfries cross straight at the goalkeeper, while Van Hecke headed a corner wide.
At half-time, Germany had 53 per cent possession to the Netherlands’ 47, but the home side had produced more attempts, eight to five, and five corners to none. The visitors had created two major chances compared with one for the Dutch, while Ter Stegen had made two saves.
The Netherlands resumed with the same emphasis on deliveries from the flanks and cut-backs across the six-yard area, but without finding a clean finish. Dumfries briefly received treatment for discomfort in the back of his thigh and continued. Veerman came on for Timber in the 56th minute.
Germany were still vulnerable to Dutch pressure. Dumfries headed a corner over, then drove into the box after receiving a back-heel pass, only for Ter Stegen to block his first-post shot with his foot in the 59th minute. Adeyemi, meanwhile, wasted another opening at the other end when a loose ball fell to him in the area and his effort flew high over the goal.
