Netherlands 1-1 Germany — Gakpo denies his old boss Klopp in stoppage time as Xavi and Klopp both make their debuts [UEFA Nations League]

2026-09-25

Netherlands

HOME

1-1

Germany

AWAY

Netherlands: Cody Gakpo 92'

Germany: Felix Nmecha 32'

UEFA Nations League 2026-27 League A Group 2, Matchday 1: Netherlands hosted Germany and the game finished 1-1.

Xavi's first match with the Netherlands and Jürgen Klopp's first with Germany ended level. Felix Nmecha put Germany ahead, Marc-André ter Stegen made nine saves, and Cody Gakpo equalised in the 92nd minute.

Netherlands and Germany share the points as Gakpo spoils Klopp's debut

Group 2 of the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League A opened with a 1-1 draw between the Netherlands and Germany at the Johan Cruijff ArenA in Amsterdam. Both sides had new coaches appointed after the World Cup — Xavi Hernández for the Netherlands and Jürgen Klopp for Germany — and both were in charge for the first time. Felix Nmecha gave Germany the lead after 32 minutes and Klopp looked set for a winning start, until Cody Gakpo equalised in second-half stoppage time: a former Liverpool player taking the win away from his old manager at the very last.

Line-ups — 4-2-3-1 against 4-2-3-1, and Havertz and Brobbey both off injured before half-time

The Netherlands lined up with Bart Verbruggen in goal behind Micky van de Ven, Virgil van Dijk, Jan Paul van Hecke and Denzel Dumfries. Quinten Timber and Ryan Gravenberch sat in midfield, with Gakpo, Tijjani Reijnders and Crysencio Summerville behind Brian Brobbey. Germany started Marc-André ter Stegen in goal behind Nathaniel Brown, Nico Schlotterbeck, Jonathan Tah and Philipp Treu; Joshua Kimmich and Nmecha formed the double pivot, with Kevin Schade, Nadiem Amiri and Karim Adeyemi behind Kai Havertz. Havertz went off injured after 30 minutes and was replaced by Younes Ebnoutalib, and five minutes later the Netherlands lost Brobbey too, with Mexx Meerdink coming on.

First half — Van Dijk's goal ruled out by VAR, Germany play on to score

The Netherlands were on top from the start. In the 12th minute Van Dijk turned in Reijnders' corner, but VAR ruled the goal out because Brobbey had backed into Ter Stegen. The game turned on 32 minutes. With Brobbey down and the Dutch players appealing, Germany kept the ball rather than putting it out of play: Amiri and Kimmich kept the move alive, Nathaniel Brown's cross ran loose and Nmecha swept it in with his right foot. It was a goal the home side felt aggrieved about, and they went in 1-0 down at half-time.

Ter Stegen makes nine saves as Germany hold out under siege

The second half was almost all Netherlands. Xavi sent on Joey Veerman for Timber on 57 minutes, and from his crosses Van Dijk had two headers while the substitute Meerdink fired off shot after shot — all of it stopped by Ter Stegen. By the end the Netherlands had 22 shots, 10 on target and 12 corners; Germany had 10 shots with two on target, and Ter Stegen had made nine saves. Klopp tried to see it out, bringing on Chris Führich and Anton Stach on 64 minutes and Yannik Engelhardt and Serge Gnabry on 80.

90+2 — Gakpo stops his old boss, debutant van Bommel with the assist

Xavi's final roll of the dice came on 83 minutes, with Guus Til and Ruben van Bommel on for Reijnders and Summerville, and it paid off. Two minutes into stoppage time Van Bommel, winning his first cap, crossed from the right and Gakpo stretched to turn it into the bottom right corner with his right foot. Gakpo, who played under Klopp at Liverpool, took away his old manager's first win as Germany coach with the last kick. Ruben van Bommel's father is Mark van Bommel, appointed Belgium head coach this summer.

Next up — Netherlands visit Serbia, Germany host Greece

With Serbia and Greece also playing their opening game in Group A2, both teams have a point after matchday 1. In matchday 2 the Netherlands travel to Serbia and Germany host Greece. The Dutch need to turn dominance into a win, and Germany have to deal with the loss of Havertz — it will be interesting to see what both coaches change in their second game in charge.

See the Germany vs Greece predicted lineups