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Wednesday, March 30, 2022

Netherlands end Germany’s winning streak under Flick

Both sides are building towards the World Cup, and the competition will have its group stage drawn on Friday in Doha.

• March 30, 2022
Netherland vs Germany
Netherland vs Germany [Photo credit: The SportsBay]

A second-half equaliser from Steven Bergwijn earned the Netherlands a 1-1 friendly draw with Germany in Amsterdam on Tuesday.

It also ended Hansi Flick’s eight-game winning run to start his reign as coach.

Germany were the better side in the first half but needed until injury-time to open the scoring through Thomas Müller’s clinical finish.

The goal moved him level on 43 with Uwe Seeler in the all-time scoring chart.

David Raum should have doubled the lead straight after the restart but fired over, and the Netherlands turned things around in the last quarter of the game.

Bergwijn smashed in from close range in the 68th minute.

Soon after, Memphis Depay was bundled over in the penalty box by Thilo Kehrer, only for the referee to grant a reprieve on video review.

The Netherlands also had a run ended, having won their last 11 at home, but the draw was “fair.”

“It was a top game with high intensity for the fans,” said Flick. “It’s beautiful to see how they (his team) play football. “The style and method is refreshing. They’re courageous. We can be happy with 1-1.”

Both sides are building towards the World Cup billed for Qatar from November 21, and the competition will have its group stage drawn on Friday in Doha.

UEFA Nations League fixtures in June, with Germany in a tough group including Italy and England, are the next staging post en route to the finals.

Flick gave 19-year-old Jamal Musiala a start in midfield, and Freiburg defender Nico Schlotterbeck kept his place after debuting in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Israel.

The pair combined on the left, and when Musiala’s cross was cleared from the toe of Kai Havertz, Müller found the corner from just inside the penalty box.

“The opening goal in this atmosphere was a great moment,” Müller said. “Then we lost a bit of control. That’s frustrating. But you could see that not only can we match good teams, we can dominate them.”

Timo Werner had earlier hit the bar, while Germany controlled possession, even though the Dutch were not without half-chances.

The tie could have been settled immediately at the start of the second period when Leroy Sane brilliantly found Raum, but he hesitated and then shot just a fraction high.

Germany lost their way and had a let-off when Matthijs de Ligt volleyed over from a corner kick, and the Dutch soon punished their lax approach.

A deep cross to the back-post was headed back by Dumfries, and Bergwijn converted with returning goalkeeper Manuel Neuer helpless.

The Dutch looked set for victory when Kehrer bumped Depay in the penalty box, but the referee decided his slight touch on the ball justified the challenge.

(dpa/NAN)

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