Netherlands 2-2 Germany
The Netherlands and Germany put on an entertaining UEFA Nations League show on Tuesday night as they shared the points to go on four each after two rounds.
AC Milan’s Tijjani Reijnders opened the scoring with just two minutes on the clock before Deniz Undav levelled the score late in the first half. And there was still time for Germany to go in with a half time lead when Joshua Kimmich slotted home from close range. Inter Milan star Denzel Dumfries restored parity early in the second half and that was that. The UEFA Nations League 2024 betting odds back Germany to go deep into the competition and, on this showing they have a good chance; but then so do the Oranje.
Highlights of the game
We expected goals in this clash, and before everyone had taken their seat in the stadium the opener flew in. Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch found Reijnders in the middle of the penalty area and he fired home. Germany were shell-shocked as the Oranje fans celebrated, but the visitors soon found their feet and went on the attack. Keeper Marc Andre Ter Stegen launched a long ball which Florian Wirtz latched onto and the Leverkusen star lashed a shot narrowly wide. Then Wirtz teed up Kai Havertz and he tested Netherlands keeper Bart Verbruggen with a low effort bound for the bottom right corner. Meanwhile, at the other end of the pitch Dumfries met a cross from Xavi Simons but he glanced his header narrowly wide.
Jamal Musiala was simply outstanding in Germany’s 5-0 destruction of Hungary but it took him a while to get going in Amsterdam, though halfway through the opening period he unleashed a trio of shots which were all charged down. Germany piled on the pressure and when Undav put Wirtz in he had a shot saved, but eventually Julian Nagelsmann’s men were rewarded. VfB Stuttgart star Undav found space in the penalty area and hammered his first international goal high into the net to make it 1-1. And in a breathless end to the half it was Undav who set up Kimmich’s goal, firing a ball across the six yard box and the Bayern utility man made no mistake.
Oranje coach Ronald Koeman’s half time talk had changed in a matter of minutes!
But whatever he said seemed to resonate with his players because the Netherlands started the second half as they had the first and, on 50 minutes, when Ajax star Brian Brobbey crossed for Dumfries he tapped the ball in for 2-2. And moments later Ter Stegen had to be alert to keep out a long range effort from Gravenberch as the Oranje looked to take advantage.
The rest of the game was a case of attack versus defence as Germany went for the kill. David Raum headed over from a Havertz cross and Max Beier let fly with a shot from all of 35 yards. Both Wirtz and Musiala had efforts charged down by a resolute Netherlands defence and, when Beier missed a late chance from close range it was game over.
Key statistics
Germany’s Euro 2024 campaign gave them plenty of cause for optimism and the way they responded to going a goal down so early was hugely impressive. These two teams made plenty of UEFA Nations League 2024 highlights in their opening games and they had 19 shots between them in the opening 45 minutes, 12 for Germany who also had more shots on target at four to two.
At SBOTOP odds of 2.56 to win the visitors looked good, but the Netherlands hit back and then defended with courage but Nagelsmann’s side, with 60 per cent possession, and 21 shots to 11 did enough to win. But they failed to take advantage and a point was all the Germans could take away from Amsterdam.
What’s next?
With the first two rounds of the 24/25 Nations League done and dusted both Germany and the Netherland can feel happy with their work so far. And the next international weekend isn’t far away when these two giants of European football get it on again on Monday 14th October at the Allianz Arena in Munich. Before that Germany visit Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Netherlands take a trip to Hungary on Friday 11th.
In the meantime we’re back to domestic matters and there are some huge games across Europe with Real Madrid away to Real Sociedad in La Liga and Spurs at home to Arsenal in the Premier League among the box office draws. And then, next week, the Champions League gets underway with 2023 finalists Manchester City and Inter Milan coming face to face in a mouth-watering opener.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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