National Team: The delicate beginning of a better future

Recognition of the game: The German national football team can still win a competitive match. Although the last-minute win against the Netherlands on Sunday in the European Championship qualifier came happy. For the refurbished team of coach Joachim Löw it was the first victory in a competitive game since the late 2-1 win over Sweden in the World Cup preliminary round in 2018 - so nine months. The Netherlands was last won 23 years ago. The narrow success of Amsterdam on Sunday, despite the weaknesses in the second half, may well be the tender start of a better future. "Such a victory will help us in the further process," said Löw.

The result: 3: 2 (2: 0) for Germany. Click here for the game report.

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First half, a ligter moment: Löw had demanded before the match that his young elf should play emotionally. The main German emotion at halftime was Joy. She was called trouble by the Dutch. Following an assist from Nico Schulz, the much-praised Oranje central defender Matthijs de Ligt stumbled and plopped onto the pitch. Leroy Sané used the 0: 1 (15 minutes). A ligter moment. After Antonio Rüdiger showed that he wants to replace both Mats Hummels and Jérôme Boateng to the emergency both at the same time. With a Hummels Boateng memory pass, center-back Serge Gnabry took the spot. The Munich then let Holland's defender Virgil van Dijk look as if he was Boateng on bad days and shot a dream goal in the angle: 0: 2 (34). Gnabry has scored five goals in his six internationals - a dream quota.

New and the Titan: Manuel Neuer played his 86th international match and has caught up with a Titan: Oliver Kahn. It used to be thought that in Germany there would never be a better goalkeeper than Kahn. Then came new - and Kahn shrank next to him. But even Neuer has recently shrunk badly to normal size, because Marc-André ter Stegen's performances suddenly appeared larger. Against the Netherlands, Neuer was finally able to make it big again: Once he parried as in the old days against Ryan Babel (25). And then Babel shot him thankfully from four meters, which made Neuer look like a titan again.

86 - @Manuel_Newest completeshis86th international matchtodayin thematchagainsttheNetherlandsand catchesupto @ OliverKahn. Milestone. #NEDGER pic.twitter.com/kSlmduiFkP

Second half, they called him Memphis: There was a fortunate moment in the second half - and that soon after the restart. Matthijs de Ligt headed home for a 1: 2 (48.), after a cross from Memphis Depay. Of 21 goals under Bonds coach Ronald Koeman Memphis was directly involved in twelve. Number 13 followed promptly: The German team was pushed deeper and deeper into the defensive, there closed Memphis from the fray. Neuer remained powerless. 2: 2 equalizer (63rd). Germany have conceded 71 goals against the Netherlands. There was no more nation.

71 - The German national team suffered the 71st goal against the Netherlands. No other nation met Germany more often. VoetbalTotal. pic.twitter.com/xoQWN88hpw

The Schulz story: When it looked more like a lucky punch of the Dutch, wrote the game just before the final whistle nor the best Schulz story since the chancellor candidate portrait of Martin Schulz in SPIEGEL 2017. The Hoffenheim left-back, who is already in his Debut against Peru (2-1) met late in September in September, slipped to 3-2 (90th). And with his weaker right foot, which is actually only there that Schulz does not plop the grass like de Ligt.

The German banking secrecy: Against Serbia on Wednesday, the DFB team turned the game after the substitutions of Marco Reus and Leon Goretzka. Reus prepared the 1: 1 Goretzka. Against the Netherlands again German reservists were instrumental in the decisive goal: Reus and Ilkay Gündogan were brought on. Gündogan released Reus, who lost on Schulz: 3: 2. The slight German upswing currently also lies in a special German banking secrecy.

EMMANUEL DUNAND / AFP

Lucky Punch: Nico Schulz (left) scores in the 90th minute against the Netherlands. Joshua Kimmich (r.) Cheers.

One-half-time team: Despite the late victory and the successful start to the European Championship qualification, nobody should be blinded. The German team is currently still a one-half-time team. As against France in October (1: 2), the Netherlands in November (2: 2) and last against Serbia on Wednesday (1: 1) Löws Elf could convince now also against the Netherlands only a half-time. "We fought in the second half, but playfully we were not at the level of the first half," analyzed later Löw. In order to be able to compete again in the European Championship in 2020, his team will soon have to become a two-half team again.

Netherlands - Germany 2: 3 (0: 2)
0: 1 Gnabry (15)
0: 2 Sané (34.)
1: 2 de Ligt (48.)
2: 2 Memphis (63.)
2: 3 Schulz (90th)
Netherlands: Cillesses - Dumfries, de Ligt, Virgil, Blind - de Roon (90th de Jong), Wijnaldum, Jong - Promes, Depay, Babel (46th Bergwijn)
Germany: Neuer - Süle, Ginter, Rüdiger - Kehrer, Kroos, Kimmich, Schulz - Goretzka (69th Gündogan) - Gnabry (88th Reus), Sané
Yellow Cards: Blind
Referee: Jesús Gil Manzano
Spectators: 54,990 in Amsterdam (sold out)