Klopp and Xavi begin international reigns with 1-1 Nations League draw

Jurgen Klopp and Xavi Hernandez began their international coaching careers with a 1-1 draw between Germany and the Netherlands in the Nations League, leaving both men unbeaten after their first match in charge.

The two coaches were appointed after their teams endured disappointing World Cup campaigns and oversaw remodelled sides that played with attacking intent but lacked the finishing needed to produce a higher-scoring contest.

Felix Nmecha put Germany ahead in the 32nd minute, although the goal provoked anger from the Netherlands because Germany continued playing while Dutch striker Brian Brobbey was injured on the pitch.

The home side secured a point in stoppage time when Cody Gakpo produced a spectacular finish from a precise cross by substitute Ruben van Bommel. Gakpo was one of Klopp’s former Liverpool players.

Xavi was particularly pleased with the Netherlands’ performance after the interval.

“They showed personality, ambition, desire. This is what we want,” he said. “So, yeah, I think the second half is the way that we must play.”

Klopp, who stepped down as Liverpool coach in 2024 after eight-and-a-half years, said his previous club experience meant he was not concerned about making his international debut.

“So I knew it, most of the things. I have fantastic players. We had a difficult game against a fantastic team,” he said.

“You want to win these games, but we knew before, whichever result we get, we will have to work with it. And that’s exactly what we are doing now.”

Both teams changed managers after the World Cup. Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany lost to Paraguay in the round of 32, while the Netherlands were eliminated by Morocco at the same stage under Ronald Koeman.

Klopp, who won a Champions League trophy and league title among other honours during his time at Liverpool, named 44 players across two squads for the four-match Nations League programme. Sixteen of those players were uncapped.

“There were two teams, two very good football teams, in the same situation,” Klopp said. “Both wanted to prove that things aren’t quite as bad as they’re currently perceived to be. And that showed in the match.”

Xavi selected a 26-man squad but left out the Netherlands’ record top scorer, Memphis Depay. The former Spain midfielder, a World Cup champion and serial winner with Barcelona, has agreed a deal to coach the Netherlands through to the 2030 World Cup.

He described himself as “a bit of a son of Dutch football”, citing Louis van Gaal, under whom he made his Barcelona debut, and Frank Rijkaard as major influences on his development as a player and coach.

Xavi promised a more attacking approach than the Netherlands showed at the World Cup and used the traditional 4-3-3 formation associated with Dutch football and Ajax’s youth academy. His team finished with 21 attempts on goal to Germany’s 10.

Klopp shared warm moments with Liverpool players Virgil van Dijk and Gakpo before kick-off. Van Dijk said: “He has been a very important person in my career so far, along with Ronald Koeman, and I have always had so much appreciation for that.”