Germany 2-2 Netherlands
Can you believe it? Well I didn’t think so, hence my pre-match betting tip.
However, it was easy for me to say ‘I told you so’, especially as many SBOBET fans thought the Germans were due a victory too.
Despite their miserable run – their last competitive victory had come against Sweden in the World Cup (their only success in the tournament) –the UEFA Nations League 2018 betting odds also favoured a home success.
How wrong we all were.
Highlights of the game
In fairness, this UEFA Nations League game seemed all but over inside 20 minutes.
That’s how long it took Joachim Low’s under pressure hosts to score twice and take a firm control to end Dutch hopes of topping Group A at the expense of Les Bleus.
Low has been at the helm of his national team for 12 years and taken charge of 171 German matches – more than any of his predecessors – and is under contract until 2022.
Yet he has never been under as much pressure as he is currently so a win in this one would have been a welcome reprieve.
It took just nine minutes for one of the rare UEFA Nations League 2018 highlights as far as Germany is concerned.
The majority inside Schalke’s Veltins Arena were buzzing as exciting young RB Leipzig forward Timo Werner fired a snapshot from long range which caught out visiting goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen and found its way into the bottom corner.
Just 10 minutes later that lead was doubled.
Midfielder Toni Kroos, returning to the side along with Mats Hummels and Nico Schulz, picked out Leroy Sane after a miscued Dutch clearance and the Man City winger – surprisingly left out of Germany’s World Cup squad this summer – fired home with the aid of a slight deflection.
But for Cillessen moments later it would have been over as another talent with real potential, former Arsenal man Serge Gnabry, was too quick for surrounding Dutch defenders only to fire the ball at the keeper.
Chances remained at a premium with a Daley Blind cross, deflected off Niklas Sule who was trying to keep it from the isolated Memphis Depay, briefly worrying Manuel Neuer and Schulz then heading wide at the other end.
Die Mannschaft remained largely in control with Werner, supported by Sane and Gnabry, all lively and Holland’s woes increased when the in-form Ryan Babel had to leave the pitch before the break with a hamstring injury.
After the restart, Neuer was called into action twice in a minute to punch away a Depay free-kick and then hold a Quincy Promes shot before play switched to the other end and Cillessen prevented Werner from grabbing his second.
The strength at Low’s disposal was highlighted midway through the second half when Marco Reus, who has been in fine form for Borussia Dortmund this term, and Thomas Muller came off the bench – the latter marking a special milestone.
Holland’s night seemed to be summed up when Javairo Dilrosun, who had replaced the injured Babel, had to go off injured himself.
The home subs nearly created a third goal when Muller clipped the ball over for Reus only for his ball to go behind the onrushing Sane.
When Depay, one of the few Holland players to show any urgency, skipped past Hummels and saw his shot beaten out by Neuer, it seemed the Dutch were destined for defeat.
Yet there was to be a third remarkable turnaround in this competition in little over 48 hours.
First Promes, one of the talents being given a chance to stake their claim by boss Ronald Koeman, prodded home to give them hope five minutes from time.
The Sevilla man rifled a fine shot past Neuer from 18 yards after Marten De Roon caught Leon Goretzka napping.
Then, after Muller saw an effort blocked, the Dutch were incredibly level.
And it was skipper Virgil van Dijk who sparked incredible Oranje celebrations who cushioned a volley past Neuer and the stunned hosts.
Holland scarcely deserved it but they scarcely cared.
They had fought back from the brink and are through to the semi-finals.
Key Statistics
Muller earned his 100th German cap when he came off the bench to replace Gnabry in the 67th minute.
He has 38 goals for his country and a World Cup winners medal.
Top of Form
What’s next?
So, Holland remarkably claim a place in the semi-finals of this competition, the draw for which will be made in Dublin on December 3.
They join hosts Portugal, England and Switzerland in the last four.
The qualifying draw for Euro 2020 awaits both the Dutch and Germany with their next fixtures scheduled for March 2019.
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