The moment when Virgil van Dijk equalized for the Netherlands in the 90th minute to 2: 2, Joachim Loew could have thought back a year. The last match of 2017 also ended in a 2-2 draw, also with a goal in the final minute.

However, it was Löw's side who converted the game against France into a draw. The DFB-Elf finished in 2017 without any defeat. The fact that twelve months later the opponent managed to turn a game that was actually lost for him into a point win says a lot about what has changed since November 2017. This game against the Dutch in Gelsenkirchen had to end in the end. Everything else would have contradicted this year 2018.

It was not a bad game of the German team. On the contrary, it was perhaps even the best performance that this team has delivered in 2018. The threesomes of Serge Gnabry, Leroy Sané and Timo Werner repeatedly caused a threat of counterattack. Hoffenheim's Nico Schulz and Thilo Kehrer of PSG made their mark on the wing. Joshua Kimmich almost made a routed six, and the defense center was stable for a long time.

"With a good feeling into the winter break"

"I have clearly seen more positive than bad," said coach Loew logically after the game, "a lot of speed, good organization," he now go "with a good feeling in the winter break." Toni Kroos, one of the 2014 World Cup team winners, also stated, "I think everyone felt they were good over large parts."

The model of the future

Manuel Neuer, Tor : In the first half almost unemployed at his old workplace. Once he was almost surprised - but his own teammate was responsible: Niklas Süle had almost beheaded him an own goal on the net. After the break, he did everything he had to do. The goals were unbearable.

Niklas Süle, Defense : Has confirmed a currently stable form. Let the defense burn little, neat in the game structure. He will be the upcoming man in central defense.

Mats Hummels, defense : once again a sovereign game of one of the few remaining world champions. The Bayern player was not naked, won most of his duels and had the Dutch attackers at any time under control - then came the final phase.

Antonio Ruediger, defense : The Chelsea pro fell slightly against the rest of the team. He also had strong tackles, but playing forward is simply not his thing. Not sure about the defense either, but the left defense on which he was deployed is not his field of expertise.

Thilo Kehrer, midfielder : Another former Schalke player in Gelsenkirchen: And the current PSG defender still felt at home in the arena. Had already in the first minute his first good offensive action, and then also attentive and mentally fast. He will be seen again in 2019.

Joshua Kimmich, midfield : In midfield, he once again made a decent figure. The ordering hand of the German game, even more so than its renowned colleague Toni Kroos. Kimmich has long been a regular player, and there's no real doubt why that is.

Toni Kroos, midfielder : returned to the team after a break in the Russian game. A somewhat discreet game for his circumstances. Lived a lot, got involved in the game, cranked up the game and made little mistakes. With a strong ball behind the Dutch defense chain he prepared the 2: 0 by Leroy Sané.

Nico Schulz, midfielder : The Hoffenheimer has shown a strong international match. Was very eager in the game forward, the line spurted up and down, with few ball losses. He got on very well with the attacking players, that was more than expected.

Timo Werner, attack (up to 63rd minute) : smoothed the team with his early goal the way. A precise long-range shot into the corner, such a goal had previously seen the DFB for a long time. Werner used his basic speed again and again, but he was not always as happy in the final as in his lead. Nevertheless, the threesome with him, Gnabry and Sané is the model of the future.

Marco Reus (from 63.) : The Dortmund came for the last half hour for Werner in the game. Normally, he is the man for the starting eleven, given his outstanding form, but a minor injury from the previous week prevented that. The blemish was first noticed, he needed to find his way into the game.

Serge Gnabry, attack (until 66th) : The Munich is with his few international matches now one that you do not want to miss. Physically strong, fast, joyful, goal-scoring, even strong in the ball. Gnabry is one of the winners of the year 2018.

Thomas Müller (from 66.) : The Bayern professional was allowed to celebrate his 100th anniversary after 66 minutes when he came to the field for Gnabry. But in his honor play he was unhappy in his actions again. No holiday.

Leroy Sané, attack (until 80.) : The city professional was again extremely noticeable. In him and Werner you can see how important speed is in the attacking game and how much this team has been missing in many games. Sané was tricky, he dared to much, at 2-0 but he was also lucky that his shot was deflected.

Leon Goretzka (from 80.) : The former Schalke Goretzka replaced the former Schalke Sané for ten minutes. For Goretzka it was not a happy DFB year. He wanted to get started and did not get beyond the reserve role.

But how much these progress is on shaky foundation, then made clear again the last ten minutes of the game. As Oranje began to exert powerful pressure, the uncertainty in the German defense suddenly became manifest again. The lack of chance exploitation, the other recurring problem of this eleven, had previously opened in various counter-attacks, which did not consistently end the striker.

The defensive order and the lack of cold-blood before the gate - that runs through this entire year 2018. Therefore, it comes to the punch line that both deficits in the last half of this year again came to light. As homework for the winter break.

There is still much uncertainty in the game

"I do not know yet if that was the right mix of younger and older," says Löw. There is still a great deal of uncertainty in the whole situation around these eleven, after six defeats and only three wins in the past year, the national coach obviously does not know exactly where to go with this team.

The victory over the team Oranje threatens the DFB-Eleven a difficult group in the European Championship qualifier. To fail there, however, Löw and his team could afford much less than to relegate from the A group of the Nations League. That will forgive the national coach in public. In the hope that it will go up again in the future with the young players.

DPA

Joachim Löw

City professional Leroy Sané, in particular, once again awoke legitimate expectations for improvement. Any rapid dribbling from him, any quick start, however, is like a constant memento to Joachim Loew to the question of how he could not take this extraordinary player to the World Cup in Russia. One could imagine that Loew regretted this decision in June several times. He has not done so publicly yet.

Renown of the team has suffered hard

The last three matches of this year after the 0-3 debut of Amsterdam in October - the 1: 2 in Frankeich, the 3-0 against Russia and now the draw against Oranje - these are the games and the players to which the national team their construction work is set. A work that also has to help to raise the reputation of this team, this coach, this association again. In Gelsenkirchen again many seats in the stadium remained empty. Germany against the Netherlands - that would have been at other times a self-reliant for a sold-out house. That's not it after this year.

At Schalke, the DFB showed at least that he is willing to cut old braids. When the German hits fell, they actually renounced Oliver Pocher's goal anthem "Black on White" to intone, with the years the goals of the DFB players were underlined. So there is hope.