Germany – Netherlands 1-0 (October 14, 2024) Match analysis

Germany secured a place in the quarter-finals of the Nations League on Monday after midfielder Jamie Leweling enjoyed a dream international debut by scoring the winner in a hard-fought 1-0 home win over the Netherlands in Group A3.

The 23-year-old Leweling, one of two German debutants, had the ball in the net in the second minute but his shot was ruled offside. However, he scored in the 64th minute, firing into the top corner after the Dutch failed to properly clear a corner.

Germany are top with 10 points from four games and booked a place in the last eight, with the Dutch five points behind in second, ahead of Hungary on goal difference. Bosnia is in last place in the table with one point after a 2-0 defeat against Hungary.

“The first half was exceptionally good,” said national coach Julian Nagelsmann. “After the break they switched the game around and we didn’t defend so well.”

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“But we completely deserved the win. Now we want to win the remaining games. We want to have continuity when it comes to results.”

The Germans had the visitors behind from the start and, apart from Leweling's goal, had further chances to score through Tim Kleindienst and Maximilian Mittelstaedt, while the Netherlands struggled to get into the game.

The hosts kept up the pressure after the break and went close again in the 54th minute through Serge Gnabry before Leweling scored the winner.

The Dutch remained anonymous for most of the game, but almost scored with their first chance when Xavi Simons' shot bounced off the crossbar in the 77th minute, just minutes before Mittelstaedt saw his deflected shot sail just past the post.

“I am not happy with our performance,” said Dutch coach Ronald Koeman. “The Germans were better, faster and physically stronger. They created more chances.”

“We lost too many balls in midfield. We went too far back, that wasn't the plan. The plan was to put pressure forward on the right side. But that didn’t happen.”

Like Leweling, it was another German newcomer, 34-year-old goalkeeper Oliver Baumann, who made an impression as he secured the lead in the 90th minute by superbly firing Donyell Malen's powerful shot wide of the goal.