Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz (l.) and RB Leipzig's Xavi (r.) in action during Germany's match against the Netherlands. - © IMAGO/kolbert-press/Marc Niemeyer
Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz (l.) and RB Leipzig's Xavi (r.) in action during Germany's match against the Netherlands. - © IMAGO/kolbert-press/Marc Niemeyer
bundesliga

All square between the Netherlands and Germany

xwhatsappmailcopy-link

Germany and the Netherlands shared the points in their UEFA Nations League Group A3 encounter after an entertaining spectacle in Amsterdam.

Netherlands 2-2 Germany
Goals: 1-0
Reijnders 2’ (assist: Grevenberch), 1-1 Undav (38’), 1-2 Kimmich 45’+3 (assist Undav), 2-2 Dumfries 50’ (assist: Brobbey)

Having put five past Hungary just a couple of days ago, Germany were caught cold in Amsterdam and conceded the opening goal inside just two minutes. Former Bayern Munich midfielder Ryan Gravenberch dissected the visiting defence to send Tijjani Reijnders clean through, and he coolly slottedpast Marc-André ter Stegen. Denzel Dumfries should have added another on the quarter-hour mark with a free header on the six-yard box, only to send his effort over. The Netherlands would come to rue that miss as Julian Nagelsmann’s side turned the game around in the space of a few minutes just before half-time. First, Deniz Undav punished a mistake from Matthijs de Ligt to equalise before Joshua Kimmich slotted in from close range in stoppage time.

The game took another twist early in the second half as the Netherlands equalised. Jamal Musiala was caught in possession on the edge of his own penalty area and Xavi slipped a pass through for Brobbey, who rolled his marker and crossed for Denzel Dumfries to tap in. Gravenberch tried his luck from distance as the Dutch sought to capitalise on their momentum, but the best chance of the half fell to Undav, whose attempted lob of Bart Verbruggen from the edge of the area was the right idea, just not quite executed well enough. There were half chances for Wirtz and Musiala in the closing stages but there were to be no more goals in what was ultimately a fair draw.

Match stats

  • Undav made his first senior start for Germany, and marked the occasion with his first international goal.
  • Kimmich scored his seventh international goal.
  • Nagelsmann's Germany beat the Netherlands 2-1 in a March 2024 friendly. It is one of eight wins in 15 games since he succeeded Hansi Flick as head coach almost one year ago, on 22 September 2023.
  • De Ligt made 53 Bundesliga appearances across two seasons at Bayern, winning the title in 2022/23.
  • This was the 47th meeting between Germany and the Netherlands. Germany have won 17, whilst drawing 18 and losing 12.
  • Germany are four-time FIFA World Cup winners and three-time European champions, but have yet to reach the final four in three editions of the Nations League.

Teams

Netherlands: Verbruggen - Dumfries, De Ligt (Van Hecke 46'), Van Dijk (c), Aké (J. Timber 45') - Schouten (Q. Timber 46'), Reijnders, Gravenberch - Xavi (Geertruida 74'), Brobbey, (Weghorst 82') Gakpo
Unused subs: Olij, Flekken, Zirkzee, Kluivert, Malen, Hato
Out: Frimpong (personal)
Coach: Ronald Koeman

Germany: Ter Stegen - Kimmich (c), Tah (Anton 46'), Schlotterbeck, Raum - Andrich (Can 63'), Groß (Pavlović 63') - Musiala (Führich 89'), Havertz, Wirtz - Undav (Beier 64')
Unused subs: Baumann, Nübel, Koch, Mittelstädt, Stiller, Henrichs
Out: Füllkrug (calf)
Not included: Gündoğan (retired), Kroos (retired), Müller (retired), Neuer (retired), Rüdiger (rested), Sané (match fitness)
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann

As it happened!

2 - 2

(1 - 2)

Netherlands
FINAL
Germany
UEFA European Championship
Nations League, Group A3
Nations League, Group A3 Johan Cruyff Arena, Amsterdam
camera-photo

Full time: Netherlands 2-2 Germany

It ends with one point each in Amsterdam, which is probably a fair result between two teams who both went for the win. The first half was a more entertaining affair, with a first senior international goal for VfB Stuttgart’s Deniz Undav sparking a Germany turnaround from 1-0 down to 2-1 up. Denzel Dumfries equalised early in the second half though, to earn the Dutch a share of the spoils.
Full-time
90'

Added time

There'll be three more minutes to be played.
85'

Over from Timber

Germany struggle to clear a free-kick into their box and when the ball falls kindly for Quentin Timber on the edge of the area, he wastes no time in shooting. He skews the ball well over the bar though.
81'

Over from Musiala

A corner is only half-cleared to the edge of the box, where Musiala is lurking. He shoots but it is also blocked and goes out for another corner.
79'

Wide from Wirtz

Pavlović floats a lovely cross from the left to the back post for Kimmich, who taps it back to Wirtz. He opts not to shoot first time, instead cutting inside to look for a more favourable angle. It's deflected though and goes out for a corner.
77'

Final twist?

The tempo of the game has dropped off somewhat over the last few minutes, with Germany needing a little while to settle again after the earlier triple substitution.
74'

Ambitious from Beier

The Dortmund forward spies Verbruggen off his line and attempts an audacious lob from close to the halfway line. The goalkeeper scurries back to make a save though.
camera-photo

Captain Fantastic

Joshua Kimmich (l.) celebrates his goal on the stroke of half-time.
64'

Substitution

61'

Chance for Undav!

The Stuttgart forward could get a second with just Verbruggen to beat, but his attempted lob doesn't get enough height on it and it's a comfortable save for the Dutch goalkeeper.
58'

Over from Brobbey

The forward wrestles Schlotterbeck to the ground and gets a shot away that goes well wide. It wouldn't have counted though, given his previous foul.
56'

Gravenberch from distance

The former Bayern midfielder is given time and space to line up a shot in a central position, about 30 yards out. He strikes it well and it looks to be heading for the bottom corner, but Ter Stegen dives down to his left to make a good save.
52'

All square again

A Netherlands attack appears to have broken down and the ball comes to Musiala on the edge of his own area. He wants too long though and has the ball nicked off his toe. It's played to Brobbey, who does really well to hold it up before crossing for Dumfries to tap in from close range.
51'
47'

Under way again

The ball is rolling in Amsterdam again. Germany have made one change at the break by bringing on Dortmund's Waldemar Anton for Jonathan Tah, who was on a yellow card.
Kick-off!
camera-photo

Half-time: Netherlands 1-2 Germany

Germany have the lead, and not undeservedly so. The home side raced out of the blocks and opened the scoring inside two minutes, and were the better side early on, with Brobbey causing Tah and Schlotterbeck all sorts of problems. Germany grew into the game though, and their two goals at the end of the half, including a first senior international strike for starting debutant Undav, put them in the driving seat.
Half-time
45'
+ 3

Turnaround!

Germany take the lead on the stroke of half-time! Undav is unable to push Raum's cross over the line, but Kimmich arrives at the back post to seal the deal!
45'
+ 3
Joshua Kimmich
45'

Aké off injured

The Manchester City defender is forced off with an injury.
39'

Undav equalises!

De Ligt makes a mistake in playing out from the back, allowing Germany to intercept. Wirtz smashes a shot at goal that Verbruggen does well to save but the rebound loops up for Undav to volley home from 15 yards! What a way to crown your first start!
38'

Deniz Undav

GOAL!

1:1
Deniz Undav
37'

Huge save from Ter Stegen!

Brobbey rolls Tah inside the box and lays it off for Gakpo too shoot, forcing Ter Stegen to make a brilliant save to keep it out. It wouldn't have counted though, as the flag goes up for offside.
32'

Wide from Gakpo

The Netherlands winger cuts in from the left, skips past Andrich to set himself up for a shot in a central position. He drags it well wide of the the post though.
28'

Germany on top

The hosts have kept possession well over the past few minutes and have largely been camped out inside the Netherlands' half.
25'

Chance for Germany!

Groß does really well to win possession off Reijnders in midfield and Germany sprint forward from there. Havertz gets to the edge of the box and slides it to his left to Musiala, who cuts onto his right foot and aims to curl a shot inside the far post. It's well struck but takes a deflection off a defender and loops out for a corner.
21'

Xavi denied

Gravenberch pings an exquisite 40-yard pass from the right wing, inch perfect into the path of Xavi, who's got behind the Germany defence. He races into the box and gets a left-footed shot away, under pressure from Musiala, but Ter Stegen is well placed to make a good save.
camera-photo

Key tussle

Tah has struggled to get to grips with former Leipzig forward Brobbey so far, the latter's pace and muscular physique causing Germany's defence all sorts of problems.
15'

Free header for Dumfries!

Schlotterbeck concedes a free-kick on Germany's left, not far outside the penalty area. Xavi curls it into the box and finds Dumfries, unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box. Somehow he heads it over though, with the goal at his mercy! That should have been 2-0.
13'

Over the bar

Schlotterbeck rises highest in the box to meet a corner but he can't keep his header down.
12'

Side netting!

Wirtz is involved once more, again in the right-hand channel as he threads a pass into Havertz's run. The Arsenal forward shoots first time with his weaker right foot but can only find the side netting.
11'

First glimpse from Germany

Neat interplay on the right from Nagelsmann's side, culminating in Wirtz whipping a cross to the near post for Undav. He controls it well but De Ligt is behind him and pokes away.
9'

Verbruggen cool as you like

A long ball from Ter Stegen almost lets Wirtz in, but Verbruggen is alive to the danger on the edge of his area, juggling the ball with his chest and head before clearing.
6'

Dangerous free-kick

Tah fouls Brobbey halfway into Germany's half, giving the hosts a free-kick. Xavi whips it into the box from deep and it momentarily looks like causing havoc, but Germany eventually clear.
3'

Early lead for the Dutch!

The Netherlands go in front, and all too easily from a German perspective. Verbruggen punts a long ball forward into midfield, where former Bayern midfielder Gravenberch collects it. He spies the run of Reijnders, who's split Tah and Schlotterbeck and somehow has a run run at goal before coolly slotting past Ter Stegen.
1'

Peeeeeeep!

Leipzig's Xavi has the first touch of the game as the home side kick things off.
Kick-off!

National anthems

The players are now out on the pitch as the national anthems blare out.

Show before the show

There's quite the pre-match display going on in Amsterdam, with flashing lights, a string band, a singer and a real sense of atmosphere building.
camera-photo

Pitch inspection

The players have already taken to the field at the Johan Cruijff ArenA in Amsterdam to get a feel for conditions under foot.
1:27
camera-professional-play-symbol

Watch: The best of Deniz Undav

If you want to know just what Deniz Undav brings to the table, look no further!

One change from Nagelsmann

Julian Nagelsmann has kept almost exactly the same starting XI from the Hungary game, with just one change. Niclas Füllkrug's injury means he has already left the team camp, and he's replace in the lone striker role by VfB Stuttgart's Deniz Undav. That keeps Kai Havertz - the other possible replacement for Füllkrug, in attacking midfield alongside Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz.

Netherlands starting XI

Verbruggen - Dumfries, De Ligt, Van Dijk (c), Aké - Schouten, Reijnders, Gravenberch - Xavi, Brobbey, Gakpo

Netherlands subs

Olij, Flekken, Geertruida, J. Timber, Weghorst, Zirkzee, Q. Timber, Kluivert, Malen, Van Hecke, Hato

Germany starting XI

Ter Stegen - Kimmich (c), Tah, Schlotterbeck, Raum - Andrich, Groß - Musiala, Havertz, Wirtz - Undav

Germany subs

Baumann, Nübel, Koch, Anton, Führich, Beier, Pavlović, Mittelstädt, Stiller, Henrichs, Can
0:33
camera-professional-play-symbol

Watch: Germany's final training session

camera-photo

Nagelsmann's view on the Netherlands

"The Netherlands has a very good team. The player have great potential and play with real variation. Individually, they are better equipped than the Hungarians. They have a good mix of quality and physicality. I hope the stadium is full and we have a great atmosphere. It will undoubtedly be an exciting match, and we are looking forward to it."
camera-photo

Füllkrug concern

Nagelsmann has revealed that Niclas Füllkrug is a doubt for the game in Amsterdam due to a calf problem. The ex-Hannover, Bremen and Dortmund striker took his tally to 14 goals in 22 senior internationals with his strike against Hungary.
camera-photo

De Ligt gets vote of confidence

Former Bayern defender Matthijs de Ligt will start against Germany, despite his mistake that allowed former Wolfsburg striker Edin Džeko in to score in the Netherlands' 5-2 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina. "We have discussed it," Koeman said at his pre-match press conference. "He did not get his footwork right. It was a bad individual moment for a defender. You have to learn from that, it is clear that these kinds of moments need to be improved. But we should not be dramatic about it and put too much emphasis on it. He will start."
1:49
camera-professional-play-symbol

Xavi vs. Jamal

This fixture tends to produce plenty of fireworks and with two of the Bundesliga's biggest talents in Xavi and Musiala facing off at the Johan Cruyff Arena, we're in for a special treat on Tuesday.
camera-photo

Super Musiala

A key member of a new Germany era, Jamal Musiala showed his immense value to the cause in the Group A3 win against Hungary, a game in which he scored once and provided three assists. "The more games we have the more we'll build chemistry and get a feel for one another," the Bayern Munich star tole UEFA's official website on Saturday. "We don't just want to have fun and not work hard, we want to have both sides of that. We have so much quality on the pitch, up front and at the back so everyone can play good football," he added.
camera-photo

Tale of the tape

This will be the 47th international meeting between these sides and Germany hold the head-to-head lead, with 17 wins to the Netherlands' 12. There have been 17 draws. The teams last met in a friendly in March, which Julian Nagelsmann's side won 2-1 thanks to goals from Maximilian Mittelstädt and Niclas Füllkrug.
1:39
camera-professional-play-symbol

In full Flo

Florian Wirtz has started 2024/25 with a bang. Along with enjoying Supercup glory with Bayer Leverkusen, the attacking wizard has weighed in with two goals and an assist in the Bundesliga. The 21-year-old netted his fourth international goal in what was his 24th senior international appearance for Germany at the weekend.
camera-photo

Winning starts

Both Germany and the Netherlands won their opening Group A3 games over the weekend and both hit five goals. Tuesday's visitors to Amsterdam were handsome 5-0 victors against Hungary in Düsseldorf while the Dutch defeated Bosnia 5-2.

Welcome along

Hello and welcome to bundesliga.com's coverage of Tuesday's Nations League encounter between the Netherlands and Germany!