Netherlands, Germany play out entertaining draw but Ake stretchered off with injury

Netherlands and Germany played out an entertaining 2-2 draw in Amsterdam in the UEFA Nations League.

Ronald Koeman’s side made an electric start, scoring inside two minutes when Tijjani Reijnders latched on to a Ryan Gravenberch through ball before firing past Marc Andre ter Stegen.

Germany found an equaliser seven minutes from the break when Deniz Undav was on hand to rifle home a rebound following a Bart Verbruggen save, and it only took Julian Nagelsmann’s side another eight minutes to take the lead.

David Raum’s pass across the face of goal took a touch off Undav into the path of Joshua Kimmich who was at the back post to slot home an easy finish to make it 2-1.

Ronald Koeman’s side emerged for the second half with the bit between their teeth though and equalised six minutes into the second half, with Brian Brobbey excellently finding Denzel Dumfries in the box who was able to tap home from close range.

Both sides remain unbeaten and on four points in their Nations League Group (3), with Nagelsmann’s side in top spot thanks to a superior goal difference. The two nations will square up again in the October international break.

When the UEFA Nations League group stage was drawn, this was one of the fixtures that attracted the most attention and after the first meeting, the two European heavyweights are yet to be separated.

Both sides have now played two matches, both won their first match, both have scored seven goals overall and both sit on four points.

After a dismal few years in which they disappeared out of the picture as one the top European nations, it feels as though Netherlands are well and truly back on their feet. World Cup quarter-finalists in 2022, Euro 2024 semi-finalists, semi-finalists in the last edition of the UEFA Nations League and now holding their own against a fellow heavyweight in Germany, there are clearly good signs on show from Ronald Koeman’s men.

With the rest of Group 3 consisting of Bosnia & Herzegovina and Hungary who played out a 0-0 draw tonight, both Germany and Netherlands will fancy their chances at progressing from their Nations League group and into the knockout stages with relative ease.

Germany and Netherlands will square off again on October 14th 2024.

The Dutch midfielder was superb tonight for his nation. His assist for Tijjani Reijnders’ opening goal was a fantastic bit of play and he can count himself unlucky not to get another assist after Xavi Simons’ saw his effort saved following a sensational pass from Gravenberch. His passing was crisp and accurate, completing 36 of his 40 passes. He won five of his 10 duels, made two tackles and one interception. A very accomplished performance both with and without the ball from the Liverpool midfielder.

Netherlands: Verbruggen 6, Dumfries 7, de Ligt 5, van Dijk 7, Ake 5, Schouten 6, Gravenberch 8, Simons , Reijnders 7, Gakpo 7, Brobbey 8 Subs: J Timber 6, Q Timber 6, Geertruida 6, van Hecke 6, Weghorst N/A

Germany: ter Stegen 6, Raum 7, Schlotterbeck 7, Tah 6, Kimmich 7, Gross 7, Andrich 7, Wirtz 7, Havertz 7, Musiala 6, Undav 7 Subs: Anton 6, Pavlovic 6, Beier 6, Can 6, Fuhrich N/A

2’ GOAL! NETHERLANDS 1-0 GERMANY (REIJNDERS) – What a start this is for Ronald Koeman’s side! Ryan Gravenberch plays a straight ball through the middle which Tijjani Reijnders latches onto before sliding his effort past ter Stegen!

15’ SO CLOSE TO 2-0! – Xavi Simons fires in a fantastic free-kick which finds an unmarked Denzel Dumfries who manages to put his header just wide of the post.

38’ GOAL! NETHERLANDS 1-1 GERMANY (UNDAV) – Germany are level! De Ligt gives the ball away on the edge of his own 18-yard box, Havertz then finds Wirtz who fires a shot on goal which is saved by Verbruggen but Denis Undav is on hand to rifle home the rebound to make it 1-1 in Amsterdam.

45’ GOAL! NETHERLANDS 1-2 GERMANY (ANDRICH) – Germany have turned it around in less than 10 minutes! Raum hooks the ball back across the face of goal from the left-hand side, Undav helps it on and Joshua Kimmich is there at the back post to fire home to make it 2-1.

50’ GOAL! NETHERLANDS 2-2 GERMANY (DUMFRIES) – Netherlands are level! Netherlands win the ball on the egde of Germany’s box, Simons plays the ball into Brobbey who does brilliantly to hold off a challenge before firing the ball across the bo to Dumfires who is on hand to tap home into an empty net!

After 1 minute and 39 seconds, The Netherlands have scored their fastest goal since 7 September 2021 (Davy Klaassen after 0:55 against Turkey (via Opta Johan).