UEFA Nations League: Netherlands and Germany are Full of Goals!

Netherlands vs Germany

One of Europe’s oldest football rivalries hits our screens again on Tuesday when UEFA Nations League: Netherlands vs Germany is the match of the week.

It’s a meeting of two in form sides with big ambitions and both had a spectacular start to this competition. Julian Nageslmann’s Germany opened their Nations League campaign against Hungary and gave the Magyars a real slapping in a 5-0 romp, while Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands hit five too, walloping Bosnia and Herzegovina 5-2. And the incredible fact from those two games was that there were ten different scorers, and that statistic alone suggests the Netherlands vs Germany highlights will be well worth watching! 

The Amsterdam Arena will be packed to the rafters, mainly with a sea of Oranje but both sets of fans will expect their team to bust the net at least once.      

 

Talking Points 

Zirkzee off the mark for the Netherlands

The Oranje’s win over Bosnia and Herzegovina was one of the most entertaining games of the tournament so far, and there was a big moment for Manchester United’s summer signing Joshua Zirkzee who scored his first goal and made another in his third international. The 23 year old opened the scoring with a clever flicked header before Ermedin Demerovic levelled for the visitors. But Zirkzee was the man to inspire the Oranje again, this time teeing up AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders to make it 2-1. It was then Reijnders who turned provider, driving a low ball across the six yard box for Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo to slot home. Former Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko halved the deficit but substitute Wout Weghorst stretched the lead again before Xavi Simons rounded off the scoring late on. 

The Netherlands had a strong Euro 2024 before being edged out at the semi-final stage by England and they will hope to go deep into the World Cup in 2026, while the Nations League gives them a chance to prepare…and win something.   

 

Musiala’s the Man for Germany

Their performances at Euro 2024 gave Nagelsmann’s team plenty to be pleased with too, and their fans great cause for optimism. Germany have an exciting young side and it was Bayern Munich’s 21 year old winger, Jamal Musiala,  who starred against Hungary, scoring one and making a hat-trick of assists as the Germans ran riot. He combined well with Niklas Fullkrug who opened the scoring with the half hour approaching and, before the hour mark, Musiala finished off a fast break to open the floodgates.

Bayer Leverkusen wonderkid Florian Wirtz, also 21 year of age, played a one-two with Musiala and then slammed home the third goal and Arsenal striker Kai Havertz thought he’d made it four but his effort cannoned back off the under side of the crossbar for the second time in the game. Musiala set up his third and Germany’s fourth when he slid a ball through to Aleksandar Pavlovic and he made no mistake, and Havertz also got on the score sheet when he slotted home a penalty in the 81^st minute.     

 

History

These two teams have met 13 times over the past 30 years and the honours have been even with four wins each and five draws.

The most famous match between the Netherlands and Germany came way back in 1974 at the World Cup final, won by the Germans. Two of the greatest players of all time were on show, Johan Cruyff for the Netherlands while ‘Der Kaiser’, Franz Beckenbauer captained West Germany, as they were at the time. The Netherlands took the lead before a German player touched the ball after Cruyff made a mazy run and was brought down by Uli Hoeness in the penalty area. Johan Neeskins slammed the spot kick home and it looked like Holland’s Total Football could win the day. But a penalty converted by Paul Breitner and a typical poacher’s goal from the lethal Gerd Muller gave West Germany a 2-1 victory.      

50 years on fans still talk about that famous final and, back in 2024, the rivalry is just a strong.

Recent form slightly favours the visitors who have picked up four wins one draw and one defeat from their last six while their hosts have won three, drawn one and lost two; but the Oranje have won their last four games at home. 

 

Betting Tip

According to the latest Netherlands vs Germany betting odds the hosts are marginal favourites to win this game at odds 2.41 while, at a SBOTOP price of 2.46 Germany are slightly behind, with the draw a little further out at 3.23. 

It could go either way, but I’m backing my gut feel and going for a high scoring game and, for a correct score line, a 2-2 draw priced at 11.56 is my long shot alternative. 

   

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