MY ACCOUNT
Hansi Flick’s 100 per cent start as Germany head coach came to an end as Steven Bergwijn sealed a 1-1 friendly draw for the Netherlands on Tuesday.
Former Bayern Munich boss Flick took over the reins from Joachim Low in May 2021 and the 57-year-old had overseen wins in each of his eight games in charge before the trip to Amsterdam.
It looked like he would make it nine on the spin when Thomas Muller emphatically slammed home his 43rd international goal before the break.
Louis van Gaal’s side had the final say, though, with Bergwijn powering home the equaliser midway through the second half.
Germany started brightly and went close in the 11th minute when Leroy Sane drilled into the side netting from a tight angle.
They threatened again 10 minutes later when Timo Werner’s header from David Raum’s cross crashed back off the underside of Mark Flekken’s crossbar.
Donyell Malen then clipped just wide of Manuel Neuer’s right-hand post under pressure from Antonio Rudiger in what was a rare sight of goal in the opening period for the hosts.
Germany deservedly went ahead in first-half stoppage time, with Muller lashing a crisp left-footed strike past Flekken after Jamal Musiala’s cross had been deflected into his path.
Die Mannschaft’s failure to find a second goal was punished in the 68th minute when substitute Bergwijn thundered home from six yards following Denzel Dumfries’ downwards header.
The Netherlands were denied the chance to score a winner soon after when referee Craig Pawson overturned his initial penalty decision for Kehler’s foul on Depay after viewing the pitch-side monitor.
What does it mean? Germany show rare vulnerability
Given Germany’s dominance for much of this match, Flick will be concerned that his side came close to losing it.
They were solid as a rock at the back until Bergwijn’s leveller, yet that goal created a sense of panic in the defence that Van Gaal’s men just fell short of capitalising on.
Muller shines
Muller was comfortably Germany’s brightest spark, scoring a fine opener and playing a whopping six key passes – three more than any other player on the pitch.
Berghuis off the pace
Steven Berghuis struggled in attack for the Netherlands, with the Ajax forward failing to have a shot or play a single key pass before he was hauled off for Davy Klaassen shortly before the hour mark.
What’s next?
Netherlands visit Belgium in the Nations League on June 3, while Germany travel to Italy in the same competition a day later.
