Jürgen Klopp immediately set the national team on fire again, but missed the dream start he had hoped for. His passionate ball hunters fought doggedly in the lion's den at the start of the German football revolution, but had to be content with a 1-1 (1-0) draw at the Nations League opener in Amsterdam against arch-rivals the Netherlands.
Goalscorer Felix Nmecha (32nd) from Klopp's old love Borussia Dortmund gave the national coach hope for the perfect evening 87 days after the embarrassing World Cup exit. But the German selection had to overcome some difficult moments against an increasingly angry Elftal before Klopp's ex-Liverpool pupil Cody Gakpo (90th + 2) achieved the deserved equalizer.
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Under the eyes of DFB President Bernd Neuendorf and Vice Hans-Joachim Watzke, there were still seven World Cup drivers in Klopp's first starting line-up, but they showed a different face than in the Paraguay defeat. Nevertheless, Klopp will have to make some adjustments for his home debut on Sunday (8.45 p.m./ARD) in Augsburg against Greece: Jamal Musiala and Kai Havertz were injured.
Klopp's debut caused huge interest in advance, the national coach reported news "by the second" and confessed: "I hope that I can do justice to this special situation." What he wants to see above all are "players who throw themselves into the next duel for each other," he emphasized and said: "Today can be the first day of our wonderful future. There are no limits to our dreams."
However, Klopp's plans for his comeback to the dugout after 858 days were thwarted shortly before kick-off: Zehner Musiala had a tweaked thigh and Nadiem Amiri started for him. The Mainz player officially opened the Klopp era with the kick-off at 8:47 p.m. With his black “One in 83 million” cap, white sports shoes and sometimes bared teeth, Klopp drove his team on with his usual spirit. As required of him, the will and commitment were clearly evident.
But a little luck also helped: a header by former Klopp protégé Virgil van Dijk (13th) after a corner was denied recognition. Striker Brian Brobbey had pushed returning goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, recently at Ajax, rather harmlessly in his “living room”.
Oranje, whose fans greeted the new coach Xavi with a warm “Welkom” poster, now took command - and took a tougher approach. Quinten Timber hit Havertz on the right thigh with an open sole - the Arsenal professional had to leave the pitch shortly afterwards. Younes Ebnoutalib came in for him as Klopp's second debutant; he had already called Freiburg's Philipp Treu into the starting line-up.
Ebnoutalib was there immediately, the Frankfurt player fired Germany's first shot on goal (31'). At 1-0, however, it was Treu who put himself in the spotlight: After a pass from captain Joshua Kimmich, who had been moved back to the center, he crossed sharply inside, where Nmecha coldly used a rebound. Protests from Elftal because Brobbey had injured himself during the creation died down. Karim Adeyemi missed the 2-0 goal (39'), Klopp clapped encouragingly.
Oranje pushed vehemently for the equalizer, Ter Stegen came more and more into focus. The DFB team definitely had problems defensively. Kimmich held the six, but received too little support from Nmecha and Amiri - so there were always gaps.
Xavi's Joker Mexx Meerdink missed several great opportunities and the German defense lacked relief. Treu (70th) missed a rare opportunity. In the final phase, another debutant, Yannik Engelhardt from Freiburg, came in to ensure more stability.
