Netherlands v Germany: Xavi and Klopp begin new eras in UEFA Nations League

Xavi and Jurgen Klopp will take charge of a national team for the first time when the Netherlands host Germany in Amsterdam on Thursday in the opening match of the UEFA Nations League. The two European heavyweights are in League A Group 2 with Serbia and Greece, with the top two progressing to the quarter-finals.

The Netherlands have appointed a foreign manager for the first time since 1978, giving former Barcelona midfielder Xavi a four-year contract covering the next European Championship and World Cup. The 46-year-old, who won the Spanish title during his final spell as Barcelona manager in 2023, has described himself as “partly a son of Dutch football” because of Johan Cruyff’s influence and his work with Louis van Gaal and Frank Rijkaard.

Xavi wants a possession-based, attacking side without “egos”, replacing what he viewed as the overly rigid and pragmatic approach of Ronald Koeman. Koeman resigned after the Oranje’s World Cup last-16 defeat by Morocco on penalties in late June. The Netherlands had not lost in normal time in any of their four World Cup matches, winning two and drawing two, and have not suffered a regulation-time defeat in a competitive match since a 1-0 loss to Germany in October 2024.

The Netherlands, two-time Nations League semi-finalists, reached the quarter-finals in 2024-25 after drawing 2-2 with Germany in Amsterdam and finishing second behind the Mannschaft.

Klopp starts Germany rebuild

Klopp left Liverpool two years ago because he no longer had sufficient “energy” and has now described taking charge of Germany as the “peak” of his coaching career. He spent only six months as Red Bull’s global football director before becoming the “obvious choice” to replace Julian Nagelsmann, who resigned after Germany’s surprise World Cup last-16 penalty defeat by Paraguay.

Klopp has been tasked with restoring Germany’s winning mentality and introducing an intense style of football, while improving their FIFA ranking from 12th. Germany have failed to win either of their past two World Cup matches, including a 2-1 defeat by Ecuador, and could go three games without victory for the first time since a four-match run ended last September.

Germany are unbeaten in their past four meetings with the Netherlands (two wins, two draws), and have lost only once in their past nine away games against European nations in all competitions (six wins, two draws).

The Netherlands’ recent form is D, W, D, W, W, L; Germany’s is W, W, W, W, L, L.

The hosts are without injured Donyell Malen, Justin Kluivert, Mats Wieffer, Matthijs de Ligt and Xavi Simons. Frenkie de Jong, Marten de Roon and Jerdy Schouten are also absent, while Memphis Depay and Wout Weghorst were not included in Xavi’s first squad. Virgil van Dijk remains committed to the national team and could captain a back four alongside Denzel Dumfries, Jan Paul van Hecke and Micky van de Ven.

Teun Koopmeiners and Tijjani Reijnders may join Ryan Gravenberch in midfield, with Brian Brobbey leading the line after scoring a hat-trick for Sunderland against Manchester City last weekend. Crycensio Summerville and Cody Gakpo are expected to support him.

Klopp has selected 44 players in two groups for Germany’s four Nations League matches, with 24 available on Thursday. Florian Wirtz, Karim Adeyemi, Nick Woltemade, Aleksandar Pavlovic and Said El Mala are in the second group, while Leon Goretzka and Deniz Undav are injured.

Joshua Kimmich is expected to return to midfield. Josha Vagnoman and uncapped Philipp Treu are competing at right-back, with Jonathan Tah, Nico Schlotterbeck and Nathaniel Brown likely to complete the defence. Younes Ebnoutalib has scored five goals in five games for Eintracht Frankfurt, but Kai Havertz is expected to start up front, supported by Lennart Karl, Jamal Musiala and Kevin Schade.

Probable teams

Netherlands: Verbruggen; Dumfries, Van Hecke, Van Dijk, Van de Ven; Koopmeiners, Gravenberch, Reijnders; Summerville, Brobbey, Gakpo.

Germany: Ter Stegen; Treu, Tah, Schlotterbeck, Brown; Kimmich, Nmecha; Karl, Musiala, Schade; Havertz.

The Netherlands have lost only once in Amsterdam since October 2023 (11 wins, four draws), while Germany have scored in each of their past 13 internationals.

Three bets to consider: draw – 3.68; Gakpo or Brobbey to score – 1.61; Kai Havertz to be decisive – 2.10.