Netherlands drew 1-1 with Germany at Johan Cruijff ArenA on Thursday, 24 September 2026, as Cody Gakpo’s stoppage-time volley denied Jürgen Klopp a winning Nations League debut and left Xavi Hernández without a first win in charge of Oranje.
The Dutch thought they were ahead after 12 minutes. Virgil van Dijk headed in from a corner, only for VAR to rule it out because Brian Brobbey had impeded Marc-André ter Stegen. Germany then took the lead in the 32nd minute. Play continued after Brobbey went down with a muscle injury, and Felix Nmecha bundled in Philipp Treu’s cross from six yards.
Dutch pressure, late Gakpo
Brobbey’s night ended early. Mexx Meerdink came on and spent the second half missing the chances that should have levelled it. Meerdink slid a Dumfries cross just wide of an empty net. Another Meerdink strike was turned behind by Marc-André ter Stegen, who kept Germany in front with a string of saves.
Xavi sent on debutant Ruben van Bommel and Guus Til late on. In the second minute of added time, van Bommel hung a deep cross to the back post and Gakpo met it with an acrobatic volley. The ArenA finally had its equaliser.
One point each in League A
The hosts had dominated the shot count after the break and repeatedly ran into ter Stegen. Neither new coach starts the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League with a win. Netherlands and Germany sit on one point apiece in their League A group after Matchday 1, with Greece top after coming from behind to win 2-1 in Belgrade the same night.
