A handshake for colleague Xavi, hugs for his passionate football fighters: what a Klopp show even without a happy ending. In a wild football ride with a lot of poison and passion, the national team narrowly missed out on a prestigious victory on national coach Jürgen Klopp's debut. 87 days after the bitter World Cup failure in America, not everything worked out with the 1-1 (1-0) draw in the Netherlands.
But after a performance full of energy and the “chaos” predicted by Klopp, despite conceding a late goal, there is still hope for better times for the DFB team. Felix Nmecha (32nd) gave Germany the lead at the start of the Nations League group phase in the atmospheric Johan Cruyff Arena. Cody Gakpo (90+2) prevented a dream start for Klopp with his goal for Oranje.
Ter Stegen first wobbles, then stronger support
Even the double injury of Jamal Musiala shortly before kick-off and Kai Havertz after half an hour did not upset the DFB team. Klopp's modern football creed of aggressiveness and pace was evident in his team, which featured three international debutants.
Defensively, however, there were still several wobbles and critical moments - initially also with the later strong goalkeeper returnee Marc-André ter Stegen. Captain Joshua Kimmich and his colleagues had to fight non-stop. Klopp, like the German fans, had to tremble and suffer a lot. The late equalizer was a bit of a blow to the neck. The mood is at least hopeful again before the first home game on Sunday in Augsburg against Greece.
Klopp's future announcement before kick-off
«Today can be the first day of our wonderful future. Theoretically,” Klopp said before kick-off on RTL. A few minutes later, Musiala's failure thwarted the new national coach's plans. He followed the warm-up program among his players and then had to act quickly: Klopp sent Nadiem Amiri into the starting line-up to replace Musiala, who had felt something in his thigh.
First minutes like from the Klopp textbook
Don't hesitate, act - that's how his team got started. After the minute's silence for the recently deceased wife of former bond coach Ronald Koeman, there was immediate action. High pressing, aggressiveness, Klopp style. Karim Adeyemi was only stopped in the penalty area in the second minute.
A start that gave courage and fueled the huge hopes associated with Klopp's commitment. Except that it didn't continue like that. After the refreshingly powerful opening minutes, Germany lost control quicker than expected and were very lucky twice in an ever-increasing stimulating climate on the pitch.
Twice lucky: no penalty and Holland goal disallowed
10th minute: Brian Brobbey falls in the German penalty area. Penalty? The referee sees no offense. Jonathan Tah breathes a sigh of relief after his poor positional play. Shortly afterwards, the Bayern professional blocks the ball for a corner, which gives Klopp the second unwanted upset: the ball is in the goal, last touched by the shoulder of Holland captain Virgil van Dijk, once Klopp's right hand on the field during the successful Liverpool times together.
However, Ter Stegen was so pressured that the VAR disallowed the goal. A little later, ter Stegen, who now plays for Ajax Amsterdam, made a real mistake: his pass into the feet of Cody Gakpo had no consequences.
The Havertz drama
Then there's this: After Musiala was unavailable, center forward Havertz also had to go out injured after less than half an hour. A debut for Klopp with maximum challenges against a determined Dutch team and the Oranje fans in the stadium. “Now there are no more excuses, not for the players, not for anyone,” emphasized record national player and RTL expert Lothar Matthäus before the game.
And the German team delivered! First, Younes Ebnoutalib, who had just replaced Havertz, missed the lead, then captain Joshua Kimmich, newcomer Treu, gave the first sign of a Klopp newcomer. Adeyemi wasn't able to put his cross into the goal, but Nmecha was able to get the rebound.
Pack formation after the German goal
Afterwards there was great excitement and pack formation: the hosts went wild. Brobbey had injured himself shortly before the German hit without any visible external influence. The Dutch were livid because the German team simply kept playing. But the referee saw no reason to interrupt the game.
Klopp's debut has long been an endurance test and maturity test in one for a German team that is going through major upheaval. Enduring pressure was the motto of the second half. A defeat in the prestigious duel with the neighbors in Xavi's first game - not really an option for Oranje.
Hard work in the coaching zone too
And now Ter Stegen was also able to really distinguish himself when he saved brilliantly against Denzel Dumfries in the 60th minute and a little later against Mexx Meerdink. He would have been powerless if he had touched the ball in front of the goal after a sharp cross from the right side. However, ter Stegen spectacularly fended off a shot from Ruben van Bommel in the final minutes.
Hard work for the team and for Klopp, who was constantly on the move in the small coaching zone. And his players also worked and ran, but in the end they couldn't give Klopp a victorious debut.
