In the first chill of a new international cycle, the Netherlands left their home debut against Germany with a 1-1 draw and the sense that Xavi Hernández’s opening night on the Oranje bench should have brought more. Jürgen Klopp also began his Germany tenure in the same fixture, but it was the Dutch coach who felt his side had earned the victory.
Speaking after the match on Thursday, Hernández said the scoreline did not reflect the balance of play. “The result was too little for us,” he said. “I think we were better than Germany, but when the ball does not go in…”
The former Barcelona manager, a native of Terrassa, judged the Netherlands’ second-half display as the clearest sign of the ideas introduced during his first camp. He felt his players took control after the interval and said he was satisfied overall with his first match in charge.
A stronger second half in the Netherlands
Hernández acknowledged that his team had been less convincing before half-time, urging greater ambition and personality from the outset. He believed those qualities appeared after the break, when the Dutch dominated more of the contest.
“We controlled the second half a great deal and I leave happy, very satisfied,” Hernández said. “Not so much with the first half. We have to show more ambition and personality, as we did after half-time. But in general it was a good debut and we deserved the three points.”
He said the work undertaken since his appointment could be seen particularly clearly in the later stages of the game. The opening-half difficulties, he suggested, may have owed something to the occasion: a new coach, a home debut and Germany as the opponent.
“In the second half we were very good,” he said. “In the first, it was harder for them. I suppose nerves played a part: a new manager, a first home match against Germany.”
Brief refereeing complaint before Serbia
Hernández also referred to an incident around Germany’s equalising sequence, saying the referee put the whistle to his mouth and distracted two or three Dutch players. He stressed that it was not an excuse for the draw, describing it only as a small point of controversy.
The Netherlands now turn quickly towards Sunday’s meeting with Serbia, with Hernández calling for recovery after an encouraging but unfinished first night in charge.
