AMSTERDAM: Germany conceded their first goal in 50 years but fought back to take a half-time lead before drawing 2-2 with the Netherlands in the Nations League on Tuesday. Germany were hurt early on, Tijjani Reijnders taking the lead after 99 seconds. The shell-shocked visitors missed several chances in the opening half hour but eventually took the lead thanks to two goals in seven minutes from Deniz Undav and new captain Joshua Kimmich before the break. Denzel Dumfries, who missed a golden chance early on, equalized just after half-time and despite both sides spurning chances – including Kai Havertz’s poor strike from close range – the scores remained level at full-time. Germany striker Jamal Musiala told RTL that his team is still coming to terms with the loss of veterans Toni Kroos, Manuel Neuer, Ilkay Gundogan and Thomas Mueller, who all retired from international football in the summer. “It wasn’t our day but we have to learn from it. We need to be safer with the ball but we can also take some positives from the game,” he said. “We’ve lost four legends from the team but it’s a process, the atmosphere is still really good. Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann said “it was a bit out of place for both teams”, but added “we were strong offensively and we took risks”. “The team believes in each other and that’s the key. We put everything into it and that’s what we and the fans want to see,” said the coach. Both sides entered the match with big wins over their Nations League group rivals, with Germany beating Hungary 5-0 and the Netherlands beating Bosnia and Herzegovina 5-2. Despite the withdrawal of striker Niclas Fuellkrug, Nagelsmann decided not to return Kai Havertz to the center forward position, where he started every Euro 2024 game. Instead, he named Undav from Stuttgart, the former Brighton striker’s first start for Germany. The Dutch opened up for the visitors early on, Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch finding Reijnders in space behind Germany’s high line. The AC Milan midfielder stepped up in goal and tapped in Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s calm finish after less than two minutes to give the Netherlands the lead. Germany’s first goal in 50 years stunned the visitors and the hosts almost scored a second in the 15th minute when Dumfries put themselves through an open goal at their mercy. The visitors eventually regained their structure and it was Undav who equalized in the 38th minute when Florian Wirtz headed home. With Germany on the attack again, Manchester City’s Dutch defender Nathan Ake collapsed in the box after sprinting with an apparent muscle injury and was visibly emotional as he was stretchered off the field. Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman said further tests are needed to diagnose the injury. “Looks like a muscle injury for Nathan, although I’m not sure. Germany then turned the game around just before half-time, Kimmich touching Undav’s pass in the third minute of stoppage time. Relief for the visitors was short-lived though, with the Netherlands equalizing in the 51st minute when Dumfries were brought down after Jamal Musiala was robbed of the ball in his own box. A minute later, Wirtz created a clear chance to regain the lead when he found Havertz in front of an open goal, but the Arsenal forward fired the ball over the bar. The group rivals end the international break on points, Germany leads by a goal.
