Jamie Leweling scored on his debut as Germany beat the Netherlands to qualify for the quarter finals of the Nations League.
Stuttgart winger Leweling was called up to replace the injured Jamal Musiala and had the ball in the net in the second minute but his effort was ruled offside.
He did not have to wait too long for an impact though, firing into the top corner after the Dutch defence failed to properly clear a corner.
Germany had the visitors on the backfoot from the start and had more chances to score through Tim Kleindienst and Maximilian Mittelstadt as the Dutch struggled to find any way into the game.
The hosts kept at it after the break and came again close with Serge Gnabry before Leweling drilled in the winner.
ILKAY, MANU, THOMAS, TONI
DANKE FÜR ALLES! 🖤❤️💛#GERNED #dfbteam
📸 IMAGO pic.twitter.com/bY9f9g4npK— DFB-Team (@DFB_Team) October 14, 2024
Fans paid tribute to four players — Toni Kroos, Manuel Neuer, Thomas Muller and Ilkay Gundogan — who recently retired from international duty.
“I am not satisfied by our performance,” Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman said.
“Germany were the better, faster and physically stronger. They created more chances.
“We lost too many balls in midfield. We went too far back, that was not the plan. The plan was to put pressure forward on the right side. But it did not happen.”
