Netherlands vs Germany

 Germany and the Netherlands, two longtime rivals, will face off in the second round of their UEFA Nations League campaigns on Tuesday at Johan Cruijff Arena.

After blowing out their opponents five games to none on the first matchday, both teams will now compete for first place in League A Group 3.

With the ultimate goal of winning the Nations League and ending their long trophy drought, the Netherlands began their most recent quest on Saturday night against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Eindhoven.

Joshua Zirkzee of Manchester United started up front in place of Memphis Depay. He scored his first goal for his country with a deft flicked header shortly after, and even though the Oranje conceded an equalizer, Zirkzee's assist was converted by Tijjani Reijnders shortly before halftime to put them ahead again.

In their first game since leaving Euro 2024, Ronald Koeman's team won 5-2 thanks to three more goals from Cody Gakpo, Wout Weghorst, and Xavi Simons in the second half.

This summer, the Netherlands lost to England in the semifinals, enduring heartbreaking defeat against the team they faced the last time they were on the verge of winning some hardware.

Five years ago, during Koeman's first stint as manager, the Oranje defeated the Three Lions in the Nations League semi-finals before losing to Portugal in the championship match; more recently, they placed fourth when hosting the finals tournament in 2023.

They defeated Wales, Poland, and Belgium to advance that far, but this season, all that's needed to qualify for the new Nations League quarterfinal round is a top-two finish.

That lowers the stakes when they play Germany again, a country inextricably linked to their football history: Johan Cruyff's Dutch team lost the 1974 World Cup final, but Koeman's team defeated their hosts en route to victory at Euro '88.

Even though Germany prevailed 2-1 at home in March in their most recent friendly match, the Netherlands has been victorious in the last several years' competitive matches.

In four meetings during the first Nations League and Euro 2020 qualifying, the teams combined for eighteen goals. On Saturday night, Julian Nagelsmann's current team scored five goals alongside their former adversaries.

With a number of veteran players absent, Kai Havertz became the fifth different goal scorer from a late penalty after hitting the woodwork twice as a revamped Germany hammered Hungary in Dusseldorf.

Die Nationalelf, who failed to win the world championship at the home tournament, intend to make their Nations League finals debut the following summer and then focus on the 2026 World Cup.

Nagelsmann has won eight of his first 14 games since taking over for Hansi Flick. With Havertz spearheading an assault that includes players like Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala, the 37-year-old Bundestrainer should be able to leave Amsterdam with at least a point.