Germany held by Netherlands in a four-goal thriller

The Netherlands continued their impressive goalscoring run at home for a 27th consecutive game after Tuesday’s 2-2 draw at Johan Cruyff Arena against Germany in their UEFA Nations League (UNL) clash.

The 2024 Euro Championship hosts started their Nations League campaign with a 5-0 win over Hungary last week as Julian Nagelsmann’s men aimed to forget the quarterfinal finish on the home front and return to international football’s top table.

A clash against the Oranjes in Amsterdam is the Germans first real test in the new dispensation, and this is coming after the Oranje defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina 5-2 in their last match. The hosts showed it wasn’t a fluke, as they led just two minutes into the game.

Brian Brobbey created time and spaced for Ryan Gravenberch to take a pass and lay one through ball to Tijjani Reinders, who slammed the ball beyond Germany’s new number one Marc-André ter Stegen. There was an almost immediate response from Florian Wirtz, but nothing came forth.

The Dutch kept on threatening in the first thirty minutes half-hour, and Ronald Koeman’s men should have been two. up, but Denzel Dumfries’s header in an unmarked position from Xavi Simons’ free-kick was off-target. Simon’s did better moments later with an effort of his own as he forced Ter Stegen into a strong save.

Before the end of the first half, Germany got back on track, first with Wirtz’s deflected shot saved by Bart Verbruggen before Deniz Undav scored his first international goal. Germany’s captain, Joshua Kimmich, also got on the score sheet with a good finish off a brilliant team move.

Despite going into the break on the back foot, The Netherlands got back on track just a few minutes after the restart. Brian Brobbey, who has been the chief tormentor of the German center-backs on the night, held off Nico Schlotterbeck in the penalty area before turning and laying the ball for Dumfries to head home.

Arsenal’s Kai Havertz should have won it for Germany, but he couldn’t finish a simple tap-in.