Jamie Leweling propels DFB team into Nations League quarter-finals against Netherlands

And on his little anniversary he has now achieved something that his two predecessors had attempted in vain. With the 1-0 win against the Netherlands, a German team successfully left the preliminary round of the Nations League behind for the first time. Second place is already secured before the final two games in November, and thus a place in the quarter-finals, which will be played in March with a return leg.

What initially looked like a lightning start against the Netherlands still required a bit of a run-up for the Germans and their goalscorer Jamie Leweling (64th minute) in his first international match. But even though a remarkably powerful first half was followed by a somewhat more reserved second, it was a well-deserved success against their rivals, who looked weak for a long time and only fought back late.

Thomas Müller first made a fashionable impression in a blue jacket with a colorful pocket square. Like his fellow 2014 World Cup winners Manuel Neuer and Toni Kroos as well as İlkay Gündoğan, the European Championship captain of the summer, he was sent off with some pomp (although Kroos had apologized because of an obligation in Madrid). And as soon as the ball rolled after a farewell applause for the deceased former national players Johan Neeskens and Dieter Burdenski, it was already in the Dutch net.

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Debutant Leweling had scored after less than two minutes, but because the video assistant had an apparently formal objection – foreman Gnabry had delicately moved from passive offside to active offside – the goal was not recognized afterwards a long examination. The result was shrill whistles and a very angry national coach.

Nagelsmann had chosen an explicitly forward-looking path: Aleksandar Pavlovic, 20, and Angelo Stiller, 23, both born and trained in Munich, started as announced in midfield. For Pascal Groß and Robert Andrich, 33 and 30, this meant that this time they could sit comfortably on the bench.

Oliver Baumann’s first in goal, at age 34, was also announced. However, Leweling’s, who was later nominated for Musiala, was a surprise; He took advantage of the fact that muscular problems slowed down Deniz Undav, who scored twice in the 3-1 victory in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Germans didn’t let the annoying offside whistle slow them down. Despite the many changes, it was once again a harmonious performance that was both fun and powerful. Kleindienst and Mittelstädt quickly took promising positions, after 25 minutes Wirtz caused the first ooh-aah moment in the center, and after almost half an hour Gnabry and Leweling realized that they got along so long before.

The Munich player found the Stuttgart player, but this time the ball did not reach the goal because de Vrij threw himself into the shot. But positive impressions were widespread: Leweling was an invigorator, Gnabry at least as much, Pavlovic and Stiller brought stability, the former also brought authority.

Defensively, the Germans were hardly challenged by the imperfect Dutch team – or to put it another way: because Nagelsmann’s team piled up the pressure from the front and forced the opponent into mistakes , the defense was largely calm. This also applied to Schlotterbeck, who mainly had to deal with Brobbey, who had tormented Tah in the first leg.

The public was in a good mood, the wave broke in the Munich arena, only one (valid) goal was missing. Gnabry almost scored with a pressing touch, then Kleindienst narrowly missed a cross from Gnabry, and from the German point of view the score went to the break at 0-0, clearly undervalued.

After that, Wirtz did not return, apparently slightly injured, Andrich was replaced, Pavlovic advanced to tenth position. The Germans now took things a little easier and no longer insisted so hard. The game, while tricky at times, has lost momentum. But Leweling once again caused a sudden and violent acceleration.

Following a corner, he sent the ball under the crossbar from around eleven meters. Things turned dangerous twice after that, when a Xavi Simons shot hit the crossbar and Baumann forcefully parried Malen’s attempt. But the neighbors were no longer able to permanently disrupt the little German anniversary.