Netherlands vs Germany: Prediction, Team News & Lineups | 24 September 2026

Two of European football’s traditional heavyweights begin new eras in Amsterdam on Thursday night as the Netherlands host Germany in their opening fixture of the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League.

The occasion carries added significance. Xavi Hernández takes charge of the Netherlands for the first time, while Jürgen Klopp makes his Germany managerial debut.

Both nations are also looking for a response following disappointing 2026 FIFA World Cup campaigns. The Netherlands and Germany were eliminated in the Round of 32 on penalties, despite progressing through their respective groups.

With Serbia and Greece completing League A Group A2, neither side will want to begin the six-match league phase by immediately losing ground to a direct rival.

Netherlands vs Germany Match Details

• Competition: UEFA Nations League 2026/27 – League A, Group A2
• Date: Thursday, 24 September 2026
• Kick-off: 20:45 CEST
• Venue: Johan Cruijff ArenA
• City: Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Matchday: 1

Match Preview

There is no meaningful Nations League table to analyse yet, with the Netherlands, Germany, Serbia and Greece all beginning Matchday 1 on zero points.

The more important theme is transition.

The Netherlands appointed Xavi following their World Cup exit. His early comments have emphasised intensity, initiative and controlling matches rather than simply reacting to opponents.

Virgil van Dijk remains captain, providing continuity while the new coach attempts to establish his ideas.

Germany are undergoing an equally significant reset under Klopp.

The former Liverpool coach has selected two different groups of players across Germany’s four September and October Nations League fixtures. His opening group was assembled specifically for the matches against the Netherlands and Greece.

That makes Thursday’s tactical battle particularly difficult to predict.

Both squads contain familiar international players, but neither coach has yet established a competitive pattern with his new team.

What should be expected is intensity.

Xavi wants the Netherlands to take the initiative, while Klopp’s teams have traditionally been associated with aggressive pressing, vertical football and rapid transitions.

The challenge for both managers will be translating those ideas into international football after only a handful of training sessions.

Netherlands Analysis

The Netherlands produced plenty of attacking evidence at the World Cup but ultimately exited earlier than expected.

Oranje drew 2-2 with Japan, beat Sweden 5-1 and defeated Tunisia 3-1 to finish first in their group with seven points.

They then drew 1-1 with Morocco before losing the Round-of-32 tie on penalties.

Across those four World Cup matches, the Netherlands scored 11 goals. However, they also conceded in every game.

That balance between attacking quality and defensive vulnerability could be central to Thursday’s contest.

New Netherlands Squad

Xavi’s first 26-player selection combines established internationals with several younger options.

• Ruben van Bommel and Gjivai Zechiël receive new call-ups.
• Joey Veerman returns to the squad.
• Virgil van Dijk remains captain.
• Memphis Depay has not been selected.

The absence of Depay increases the possibility of Brian Brobbey starting through the centre.

Brobbey arrives in excellent club form after scoring a hat-trick for Sunderland against Manchester City immediately before the international break.

Xavi has enough technical quality to build around a possession-oriented 4-3-3.

Denzel Dumfries can provide aggressive forward runs on the right, while Nathan Aké or Micky van de Ven can offer greater defensive security on the opposite side.

In midfield, Ryan Gravenberch, Joey Veerman and Tijjani Reijnders provide ball carrying, distribution and movement between the lines.

Netherlands Recent Competitive Form

Form: D-W-W-D

• Netherlands 1-1 Morocco – World Cup
• Tunisia 1-3 Netherlands – World Cup
• Netherlands 5-1 Sweden – World Cup
• Netherlands 2-2 Japan – World Cup

The Netherlands therefore remain unbeaten over 90 minutes across their last four competitive matches, although the draw with Morocco ultimately ended in elimination on penalties.

Germany Analysis

Germany’s World Cup campaign followed a similarly frustrating path.

They opened by thrashing Curaçao 7-1 before beating Côte d’Ivoire 2-1.

A 2-1 defeat against Ecuador followed before Germany drew 1-1 with Paraguay in the Round of 32 and lost the subsequent penalty shoot-out.

Germany scored ten goals and conceded four during the group stage, highlighting the attacking potential Klopp inherits.

However, the defeat by Ecuador and inability to overcome Paraguay also exposed the inconsistency that preceded the managerial change.

Klopp’s First Germany Squad

The squad selected for the Netherlands and Greece fixtures includes:

• Marc-André ter Stegen
• Jonathan Tah
• Nico Schlotterbeck
• Joshua Kimmich
• Jamal Musiala
• Serge Gnabry
• Felix Nmecha
• Kai Havertz
• Karim Adeyemi

Germany have already made one adjustment.

Karim Adeyemi has moved into the first squad in place of Lennart Karl, with the change attributed to workload management.

Klopp’s first full training session with the assembled group took place on Tuesday afternoon.

That limited preparation time could be important.

Germany may immediately demonstrate Klopp’s preferred intensity, but sophisticated pressing movements and coordinated positional rotations normally require considerably more repetition.

Germany Recent Competitive Form

Form: D-L-W-W

• Germany 1-1 Paraguay – World Cup
• Ecuador 2-1 Germany – World Cup
• Germany 2-1 Côte d’Ivoire – World Cup
• Germany 7-1 Curaçao – World Cup

Germany scored 11 times across those four World Cup fixtures — exactly matching the Netherlands’ attacking output.

Netherlands vs Germany Head-to-Head

This is one of European international football’s most established rivalries.

The teams have met 48 times.

• Germany wins: 18
• Netherlands wins: 12
• Draws: 18
• Overall goals: Germany 90-79 Netherlands

Recent Meetings

• Germany 1-0 Netherlands – October 2024
• Netherlands 2-2 Germany – September 2024
• Germany 2-1 Netherlands – March 2024
• Netherlands 1-1 Germany – March 2022
• Germany 2-4 Netherlands – September 2019

The previous Nations League meeting in Amsterdam finished 2-2, before Germany won the return fixture 1-0 in Munich.

Germany’s previous two visits to Amsterdam have both ended level.

Tactical Analysis

How the Netherlands Could Play

Xavi’s first major challenge will be establishing positional control quickly.

A likely 4-3-3 could feature Gravenberch dropping into deeper build-up positions, Veerman providing distribution and Reijnders making more aggressive movements between the lines.

Dumfries can stretch Germany on the right, while Cody Gakpo naturally moves inside from the left.

That could create an attacking structure based on width on one side, inverted movement on the other and several midfielders occupying spaces between Germany’s lines.

Germany’s Press

Germany’s pressing structure will be one of the most intriguing features of Klopp’s debut.

The visitors have the athletic profiles required to press aggressively.

• Havertz can initiate pressure centrally.
• Musiala can attack midfield passing lanes.
• Adeyemi provides explosive pace.
• Kimmich can organise the second line.

The danger is that coordinated pressing is difficult to perfect after only a few international training sessions.

If Germany’s first line is bypassed, Gravenberch and Reijnders could find significant space in midfield.

Netherlands’ High Line vs Germany’s Pace

Xavi’s desire to control territory could push the Dutch defensive line towards the halfway line.

That creates an obvious risk.

Adeyemi, Gnabry and Kevin Schade all have the acceleration to attack space behind an advanced defence.

Havertz’s movement could also drag Dutch centre-backs away from their preferred positions.

Van de Ven’s recovery speed could therefore be particularly important.

Brobbey vs Germany’s Centre-Backs

Brobbey gives the Netherlands a direct route through pressure.

He can receive with his back to goal, protect possession and bring supporting runners into play.

Against Jonathan Tah and Nico Schlotterbeck, that battle could determine whether Oranje can successfully escape Germany’s opening pressing wave.

Key Tactical Battles

Ryan Gravenberch vs Germany’s Central Press

If Gravenberch can receive on the half-turn and carry possession through midfield, Germany’s defensive structure could become exposed.

Denzel Dumfries vs Germany’s Left Flank

Dumfries’ aggressive positioning could force Germany’s left-sided player considerably deeper than Klopp would prefer.

Jamal Musiala Between the Lines

The Netherlands must prevent Musiala from receiving freely behind their midfield.

If Van Dijk is repeatedly forced to step forward, Germany could create space behind the Dutch defensive line.

Dutch Build-Up vs Klopp’s Counter-Press

This may be the defining tactical battle.

Xavi wants control. Klopp traditionally wants disruption.

The team that imposes its preferred rhythm should gain a significant advantage.

Netherlands Team News

At the time of writing, there has been no confirmed major withdrawal from the 26-player Netherlands squad.

• Out: No substantiated new match-specific absence confirmed.
• Doubtful: None officially confirmed.
• Returning: Joey Veerman.
• Suspended: No major suspension reported.

Memphis Depay is absent from the squad, but his omission should not be described as an injury without supporting evidence.

Germany Team News

• Lennart Karl: Moved out of the first group as part of workload management.
• Karim Adeyemi: Moved into the first squad and available as an attacking option.
• Brajan Gruda: Has suffered a lateral abdominal muscle strain but was originally scheduled for the later Germany squad.
• Suspended: No significant suspension confirmed.

Predicted Line-ups

These are projected teams rather than confirmed starting XIs. With Xavi and Klopp both selecting their first competitive line-ups, uncertainty is higher than usual.

Netherlands Predicted XI

Formation: 4-3-3

Verbruggen; Dumfries, Van Dijk, Van de Ven, Aké; Gravenberch, Veerman, Reijnders; Frimpong, Brobbey, Gakpo.

Germany Predicted XI

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Ter Stegen; Vagnoman, Tah, Schlotterbeck, Brown; Kimmich, Nmecha; Gnabry, Musiala, Adeyemi; Havertz.

Ter Stegen’s return to the squad puts him in a strong position to begin Klopp’s tenure as Germany’s senior goalkeeping option.

Key Players to Watch

Cody Gakpo – Netherlands

Gakpo’s ability to start wide before attacking central shooting positions makes him particularly dangerous against a German side expected to defend aggressively.

Ryan Gravenberch – Netherlands

Gravenberch may be the most important Dutch player structurally. His ability to resist pressure could determine whether the Netherlands successfully play through Germany’s press.

Brian Brobbey – Netherlands

Brobbey arrives after scoring a club hat-trick before the international break. His strength against Germany’s centre-backs provides Oranje with an alternative to patient possession.

Jamal Musiala – Germany

Musiala is Germany’s principal threat between the lines. If allowed to turn in the inside channels, his dribbling and combination play can disrupt the Dutch defensive structure.

Joshua Kimmich – Germany

Kimmich’s tactical importance could increase under Klopp. His positioning will influence Germany’s pressing height and their ability to control Dutch counter-attacks.

Kai Havertz – Germany

Havertz can operate as a conventional striker, false nine or attacking midfielder.

That flexibility could prove useful against Van Dijk and Van de Ven, particularly if Germany attempt to move the Dutch centre-backs away from their preferred defensive zones.

Key Statistics

• The Netherlands scored 11 goals in four matches at the 2026 World Cup.
• Germany also scored 11 goals across four World Cup matches.
• The Netherlands were unbeaten inside 90 minutes in all four World Cup matches.
• Germany scored 10 goals and conceded four during the World Cup group stage.
• Germany and the Netherlands have drawn 18 of their 48 meetings.
• The previous Amsterdam Nations League meeting finished 2-2.
• Germany are unbeaten in their last four meetings with the Netherlands, recording three wins and one draw.
• Both countries were eliminated from the 2026 World Cup following 1-1 Round-of-32 draws and penalty shoot-out defeats.

Schedule, Fatigue and Weather

Both managers face an unusual four-match international period, meaning squad management could become important.

The Netherlands travel to Serbia only three days after this match, while Germany host Greece on 27 September.

Germany’s decision to divide their wider player pool into separate groups has been designed partly to manage that workload and evaluate more players.

Weather conditions should not significantly affect the match.

Amsterdam is expected to be cool and largely cloudy, with evening temperatures falling into the low teens and no indication of extreme conditions.

Netherlands vs Germany Prediction

There are strong arguments for both sides.

The Netherlands have home advantage, a technically strong midfield and enough pace and physicality to punish Germany if Klopp’s new pressing system loses its organisation.

Germany, however, possess excellent transition players who are well suited to exploiting the spaces that could appear if Xavi immediately asks Oranje to play an ambitious positional game.

The greatest uncertainty surrounds the two managers.

Neither Xavi nor Klopp has yet managed his national side competitively, and both have had limited training time to establish their preferred tactical principles.

A perfectly controlled performance from either side would therefore be difficult to expect.

Goals appear more plausible than a low-event contest.

The Netherlands conceded in every World Cup match despite remaining unbeaten over 90 minutes, while Germany scored freely but struggled to retain control against Ecuador and Paraguay.

A high-quality draw consequently looks like a credible opening-night scenario.

Netherlands vs Germany Betting Tips

• Full-Time Prediction: Draw
• Both Teams to Score: Yes
• Over/Under 2.5 Goals: Over 2.5
• Safer Goals Angle: Under 3.5 – lower confidence than BTTS
• Double Chance: Netherlands or Draw (1X)
• Half-Time Prediction: Draw
• Correct Score: Netherlands 2-2 Germany
• Prediction Confidence: Moderate

Score Prediction: Netherlands 2-2 Germany

There are too many attacking weapons on both sides to confidently predict a cautious stalemate.

The Netherlands should enjoy periods of territorial control at home, particularly if Gravenberch and Veerman successfully play through Germany’s opening press.

Gakpo and Brobbey have the movement and physical attributes to trouble a German defence still adapting to new instructions.

Germany, however, could be at their most dangerous when they do not have possession.

Musiala between the lines, Havertz’s movement through central areas and the pace of Adeyemi or Gnabry provide an obvious threat against an ambitious Dutch defensive line.

Both managers will want to make an immediate statement, but complete tactical cohesion is unlikely after only a few training sessions.

That combination points towards an open contest in which both teams create opportunities without either establishing complete control.

Preferred score: Netherlands 2-2 Germany.

Hot Stat

Three of Germany’s last four visits to the Netherlands have finished level, including the 2-2 Nations League draw in Amsterdam in September 2024.