The German national football team has missed a victory at the conclusion of the Nations League. In the last international match of the year, the DFB team played 2: 2 (2: 0) against the Netherlands. Timo Werner (9th minute) and Leroy Sané (19th) had taken Germany into the lead, Quincy Promes met shortly before the end to connect (85.), Virgil van Dijk to equalize (90. + 1).
The descent from League A of the Nations League was already determined before the match in Gelsenkirchen. In Group 1 Germany had no chance to leave last place before the final game against the Netherlands. With now two points, the team is behind France (seven points) and group winners Netherlands (also seven points).
In the next Nations League season 2020 Germany plays in Group B against significantly weaker teams. Qualifying for the European Championship 2020 in twelve European cities is still possible. After the Nations League, over which four teams can qualify for the European Championship, there will be a normal qualifying round as usual, which will be drawn on 2 December.
Weak chance utilization of Germany in halftime two
Germany took an early lead against the Netherlands: a passing by Toni Kroos led Serge Gnabry straight to Werner. The offensive player processed the ball skilfully and moved from about 20 meters away - 1-0. Werner had almost refilled the second goal shortly thereafter, but he could not handle a cross by Nico Schulz.
It went well for the German team: Sané, who had not been nominated for the World Cup in Russia by coach Joachim Loew, dropped out after a long pass from Kroos two Dutchmen and hit from the edge of the box past Netherlands keeper Jasper Cillesen for 2 : 0 (19.). The shot of the attacker was still deflected.
Then the game flattened. Niklas Süle made for a short excitement, as he almost headed the ball into his own goal (34). Then the Germans missed the third goal in a row: first Gnabry (40.), then Werner, who scored 39 seconds into the arms of Cillesen after a free-kick. Later Werner again after a counterattack (62), then Sané after a pass from Marco Reus (72) - and a few others.
Six defeats in 2018
The lack of opportunity utilization would almost have been punished. When the game rippled away, the Dutch, who would have been drawn to a group win, met Promes in the 85th minute. And it got even worse for the DFB selection: Van Dijk scored in injury time to 2: 2.
The German national team has put down the worst year in their history: six defeats in a year are negative record in the DFB history. The sporting low point: At the World Cup in Russia, the team of Löw failed already in the preliminary round.