Netherlands v Germany Live Commentary & Result, 29/03/2022, Friendlies

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The Netherlands return to action in June when they take on Belgium in their Nations League Group A4 match. Germany are also in Nations League action next time out when they face Italy in Group A3 on the road.

The Netherlands and Germany play out a 1-1 draw in their friendly clash at the Johan Cruijff Arena. Thomas Muller put Die Mannschaft ahead in the first half with a fine finish on his left foot, but Steven Bergwijn levelled the scores with an emphatic strike from close range. Louis van Gaal's men were awarded a penalty, but the decision was overturned by VAR. Neither side could press for a winner as the contest ended in a stalemate.

90' + 2' FULL-TIME: NETHERLANDS 1-1 GERMANY

90' There will be two minutes of added time.

A. Rüdiger

Yellow Card

89' Rudiger drags down Depay to prevent a break and goes into the book.

88' NMECHA HAS TO SCORE! Muller plays the forward through on goal in between Van Dijk and De Ligt, but the forward scuffs his effort straight at Flekken. Nmecha had the chance to win the game and open his Die Mannschaft account there.

F. de Jong

Yellow Card

86' De Jong brings down Gundogan with a loose challenge and goes into the book.

J. Draxler

L. Sané

86' Sane is withdrawn after a good performance in the final third and is replaced by Draxler.

C. Günter

D. Raum

86' Gunter replaces Raum for the closing minutes of the contest in the Germany defence.

85' SAVE! Nmecha is afforded space and time in the final third, but he drills his right-footed strike from 20 yards straight at Flekken.

D. Raum

Yellow Card

83' Raum goes into the book for a foul on Dumfries.

82' CLOSE! Depay surges down the left flank and steers a low cross into the middle that Klaassen just cannot reach on the stretch. De Ligt gathers at the back post and fires towards goal, but Schlotterbeck is in the right place at the right time to clear it away from danger.

L. Nmecha

T. Werner

80' Nmecha enters the action in the final third to replace Werner.

B. Henrichs

T. Kehrer

79' Henrichs replaces Kehrer at the back, who was a given a reprieve by VAR 10 minutes ago.

77' Klaassen finds space down the right flank and he digs out a cross into the middle, but Depay cannot steer it towards goal amid pressure from Rudiger.

75' The Netherlands have found a spark since their leveller and are putting Germany under real pressure at the back. There's no way out for Die Mannschaft at the moment.

N. Aké

T. Malacia

74' Ake replaces Malacia as Van Gaal attempts to shore up his backline. Blind will likely push forward.

73' VAR! PENALTY OVERTURNED! Referee Pawson is instructed to head to the screen and he overturns his decision as Kehrer gets a touch on the ball before he brings down Depay.

71' PENALTY TO NETHERLANDS! Depay latches onto a throughball from Bergwijn, but is bundled over in the box by Kehrer. The referee points to the penalty spot, much to the dismay of the visitors.

F. Neuhaus

J. Musiala

69' Neuhaus replaces Musiala, whose run and cross created the opening for Muller to score.

J. Brandt

K. Havertz

69' Brandt enters the action for the visitors in the final third to replace Havertz.

D. Dumfries

Assist

68' Dumfries makes a good run in the inside-right channel and rises above Raum to nod De Jong's cross back to Bergwijn to score.

S. Bergwijn

Goal

68' GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!! BERGWIJN HAMMERS HOME!!!! 1-1!!!!!! The Netherlands are level courtesy of a blast from close range from Bergwijn. De Jong angles a dangerous cross to the back post that Dumfries heads back into the middle. Bergwijn latches on to the knockdown and fires a first-time effort with power past Neuer.

64' The home side are attempting to up the ante in the final third to press back into the game. They've been subdued in the second half by Die Mannschaft.

62' Musiala nods an effort towards goal from the resulting corner, but Flekken makes a comfortable claim on the line.

61' BLOCK! Sane lines up the resulting strike, but his effort clips off the top of the wall and travels wide of the left post.

60' Van Dijk brings down Sane on the charge and hands Germany a free-kick in a good position in the final third.

S. Bergwijn

D. Malen

58' Malen had his chances in the final third and is now replaced by Bergwijn.

D. Klaassen

S. Berghuis

58' Berghuis is withdrawn from the action and is replaced Klaassen for the home side.

57' CHANCE! Depay sends the resulting corner into the box that Schlotterbeck can only steer to De Ligt at the back post. The defender takes on the strike first-time, only to blast his effort over the bar.

56' Kehrer brings down Berghuis on the left flank, handing the Netherlands a chance to send a free-kick into the Germany box.

56' Depay swings a cross into the box from the left flank, but Rudiger rises highest to head behind for a corner.

54' WIDE! Kehrer raids forward from the back and opens up space for a stirke at goal that travels just wide of the right post. Flekken was concerned for a second there.

52' Malacia does just enough to knock a pass from Sane away from the lurking presence of Muller on the edge of the box.

49' OVER! Sane turns in the final third and opens up space for a strike at goal, but he lifts his left-footed effort over the top.

48' CHANCE! Sane releases Raum with a brilliant pass in the Netherlands box, but the full-back curls his effort over the top. Werner was unmarked in the middle, but Raum opted to go for goal and spurned the opening.

46' We're back under way at the Johan Cruijff Arena.

G. Wijnaldum

T. Koopmeiners

46' Wijnaldum replaces Koopmeiners at the break for the home side in the middle of the park.

Louis van Gaal will be frustrated that his team are trailing at the break. Netherlands had a slow start, but gradually worked their way on top. However, a clinical move from Germany allowed the visitors to take the lead. Van Gaal will be looking for a response from his team in the second half.

Thomas Muller's strike on the stroke of half-time has handed Germany a 1-0 lead in their friendly clash against the Netherlands. Both teams spurned decent openings in the first half as Timo Werner's header hit the underside of the bar, while Donyell Malen missed a host of chances for the Oranje. It appeared that the scoreline would remain goallesss until Muller made the breakthrough with a fine finish on his left foot.

45' + 1' HALF-TIME: NETHERLANDS 0-1 GERMANY

T. Müller

Goal

45' + 1' GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!! MULLER FIRES GERMANY AHEAD!!!!!! 1-0!!!!! The forward pounces on a loose ball in the Netherlands box and slams a strike into the top-left corner. Musiala breaks open the Netherlands' defence with a surge into the inside-left channel. Malacia does well to divert his cross away from Havertz, but Muller is there to convert from the rebound. A clinical finish.

43' Germany win a corner on the right flank, but the delivery from Gundogan proves to be too high for Schlotterbeck to force towards goal.

41' The Netherlands have gradually grown into the game, but are just lacking the killer touch in front of goal. Van Gaal will be satisfied with his side's display so far.

39' Malen makes a move inside from the right flank to strike at goal on his left foot, but he sends a tame effort into the hands of Neuer.

37' Depay turns in the final third and almost finds space to fire at goal, but Rudiger gets across to put a foot in to avert the danger for the visitors.

35' CHANCE! Depay releases Malen through on goal in the inside-left channel, but he stumbles as he fires at goal on his left foot and can only find the side-netting. Malen has been active in the final third for the home side.

34' It is an open game and there have been shooting opportunities for both teams. Neither Netherlands nor Germany have been clinical in front of goal tonight.

33' WIDE! Koopmeiners wins the ball for Netherlands from Gundogan and it allows Dumfries to feed Malen in space. The forward has time to fire at goal from 20 yards, but he curls his right-footed strike wide of the target.

32' OVER! Sane lines up a blast from the left flank and goes for goal with power. However, he gets too much on his left-footed strike, sending it well over the bar.

30' Gundogan looks for Werner in the box with his free-kick, but Malen gets there ahead of him to make the interception. Werner goes to ground and looks to the referee, but Craig Pawson is not interested.

M. Depay

Yellow Card

29' Depay pulls back Musiala on the charge and goes into the book.

26' BLOCK! Schlotterbeck has to make a vital block to prevent Malen from finding the target after an interception from De Ligt set up an opening at goal for the forward.

25' OVER! Depay twists and turns down the left flank and is repelled by Kehrer. He offloads back to Malacia who goes for goal, only to smash his right-footed effort over the bar.

23' Werner's goal against Israel for Die Mannschaft last time out was only his second goal in his last 13 appearances in all competitions.

21' OFF THE BAR! Werner's header strikes the underside of the bar and bounces out. The forward latches on to a precise cross from Raum from the left flank and nods a fine effort towards goal. Flekken is beaten, but the ball hits the underside of the bar, bounces on the line before the Netherlands keeper gathers the rebound. It's just not happening in front of goal for Werner at the moment, that was so unlucky.

20' CLOSE! Malen breaks behind the Germany defence down the inside-right channel and delivers a dangerous low cross that just evades Malacia at the back post.

19' SAVE! Muller sticks out a leg and diverts the ball to Havertz on the edge of the box. The Chelsea forward lines up a blast on his left foot that sails straight into the arms of Flekken.

16' Both sides are trying to size up each other here. Sane has had the best chance of the opening 15 minutes and Die Mannschaft have been the better team in possession.

14' Netherlands look to get behind the Germany defensive line with a quick pass through, but Malen moves too early on this occasion and is caught offside.

13' OVER! Germany work the ball around the edge of the Netherlands box before Gundogan goes for goal from 20 yards, but he blazes his effort well over the bar.

12' CHANCE! Muller releases Sane with a chipped pass into Netherlands' box. The winger takes the ball down and fires at goal from a tight angle, but he can only find the side-netting with his attempt.

10' Raum sends a cross to the near post from the resulting corner, but he fails to beat the first defender Koopmeiners, who heads clear with ease.

9' Germany press down the left flank and win a corner as Dumfries diverts a cross from Raum behind.

7' Depay tries to release Berghuis down the left flank, but the forward moves too soon and is caught offside.

6' SAVE! Depay fires a corner into the Germany box from the right flank for Koopmeiners to attack. He powers a header at goal, only to send his effort straight at Neuer.

3' De Jong looks to cut open the Germany defence with a throughball for Berghuis, but Schlotterbeck makes a vital interception.

2' Flekken has to scamper off his line to clear a long ball over the top from Kehrer away from Werner on the right flank.

1' We're under way at the Johan Cruijff Arena.

The two sides last met in September 2019 when Netherlands secured a 4-2 victory over Die Mannschaft in their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign.

Flick has made four changes to his side that beat Israel. Neuer is recalled to the side in place of Ter Stegen, while Rudiger starts ahead of Tah in the back three. Sane and Muller slot into the midfield with Weigl and Draxler missing out in the starting line-up.

Netherlands have made two changes to their side that beat Denmark last time out. Bergwijn and Ake drop to the bench and are replaced by Malen and Malacia. The latter slots into left wing-back, while Blind drops into the back three alongside Van Dijk and De Ligt.

GERMANY SUBS: Matthias Ginter, Anton Stach, Julian Draxler, Lukas Nmecha, Julian Brandt, Kevin Trapp, Julian Weigl, Jonathan Tah, Florian Neuhaus, Benjamin Henrichs, Christian Gunter, Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

GERMANY (3-4-3): Manuel Neuer; Thilo Kehrer, Antonio Rudiger, Nico Schlotterbeck; Leroy Sane, Ilkay Gundogan, Thomas Muller, David Raum; Kai Havertz, Timo Werner, Jamal Musiala.

NETHERLANDS SUBS: Hans Hateboer, Nathan Ake, Steven Bergwijn, Georginio Wijnaldum, Arnaut Danjuma, Noa Lang, Tim Krul, Davy Klaassen, Marten de Roon, Jordy Clasie, Wout Weghorst, Joel Drommel.

NETHERLANDS (3-4-3): Mark Flekken; Matthijs de Ligt, Virgil van Dijk, Daley Blind; Denzel Dumfries, Teun Koopmeiners, Frenkie de Jong, Tyrell Malacia; Donyell Malen, Memphis Depay, Steven Berghuis.

Germany were also in action at the weekend against Israel in their friendly clash and posted a 2-0 win on home soil. Die Mannschaft secured their eighth win in a row in all competitions, boasting an imperious record since losing 2-0 at the hands of England in Euro 2020. Hansi Flick offered opportunities for Nico Schlotterbeck and Anton Slach to make their bows, but he will also be looking for his senior players to find their form ahead of the World Cup with time running out to settle on a shape and team.

Netherlands began their preparation for the World Cup with a convincing win over Denmark in their friendly clash last time out. Having already booked their place in Qatar, Louis van Gaal took the opportunity to build momentum ahead of the competition, offering a chance for senior players to find their rhythm. It was a successful night for the Oranje, and Van Gaal will be looking for another good performance against stiffer opposition.

Good evening and welcome to the live commentary of the friendly clash between Netherlands and Germany at the Johan Cruijff Arena.

Netherlands v Germany Live Commentary, 29/03/2022

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