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Netherlands into UEFA Nations League finals


Netherlands into UEFA Nations League finals

A dramatic comeback sent the Netherlands to the UEFA Nations League finals and ended Germany’s nightmare year with yet more disappointment in a 2-2 draw on Monday (Nov 19).

Netherlands scored twice in the last five minutes to recover from two goals down and earn a 2-2 draw against relegated Germany in the UEFA Nations League on Monday to secure a spot in next year's finals ahead of world champions France.

Virgil van Dijk struck a close-range volley in stoppage time to equalise for the visitors after Quincy Promes had cut the deficit in the 85th minute with the Germans having led through early goals from Timo Werner and Leroy Sane.

Switzerland, England and hosts Portugal had already qualified for the four-team finals in June (2019).

The Dutch topped League A Group 1 despite finishing level on seven points with France due to a better head-to-head record.

The Germans, who suffered a shock first-round exit at the World Cup in June and lost a German record six times this year, finished in last place with just two points.

But their lightning-quick young frontline, nicknamed 'the moped gang', looked promising and lived up to their tag as 22-year-olds Werner and Sane, plus Serge Gnabry, 23, terrorised the Dutch defence with their speed, especially in the first half.

They had already shown their potential in a 3-0 friendly win over Russia on Thursday as coach Joachim Loew made changes after Germany's World Cup flop and Nations League relegation.

The Germans took the lead after nine minutes when Werner controlled a pass with his head and then fired in from 20 metres after the ball dropped outside the box.

Sane finished an almost identical move in the 20th, latching onto a deep Toni Kroos pass and drilling in the second goal of the evening with a deflected shot from the edge of the box.

Gnabry almost got a third with a glancing header in the 40th and Werner outsprinted his marker only to fire wide on the hour as the Dutch struggled to contain their opponents and remained toothless up front until Promes got them back in the game.

They then earned a last-gasp equaliser through Van Dijk to book their spot in the competition finals in Portugal.

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