Late goal conceded spoils Jürgen Klopp's debut in Amsterdam
In a simple outfit of black trousers and a grey sweater, Jürgen Klopp entered the Johan‑Cruyff‑Arena in Amsterdam on Thursday evening for his first match as national team coach. The German national team led until stoppage time with a 1:0 thanks to the early goal by Felix Nmecha, but a late equaliser from Cody Gakpo gave a 1:1 draw and shattered the hoped‑for dream start.
Line‑up and early dominance
Klopp relied on speed from the start: on the wings were Karim Adeyemi and Kevin Schade, while in goal Marc‑André ter Stegen formed the backbone. In central defence played Nico Schlotterbeck and Jonathan Tah, in midfield Joshua Kimmich and Felix Nmecha, and up front Kai Havertz was initially active. Havertz had to be substituted after less than thirty minutes due to an injury.
Jamal Musiala, who felt a slight thigh pain during the warm‑up, was replaced before kickoff by Nadiem Amiri. Despite these absences, the German side remained goalless until the 90th minute and controlled the play, with Nmecha scoring the 1‑0 in the 32nd minute.
Late equaliser by Netherlands denies Jürgen Klopp a win in Amsterdam
Late equaliser and final phase
In stoppage time Cody Gakpo netted the equaliser after a corner, bringing the Netherlands to a 1‑1 final score. Referee Alejandro Hernández confirmed the goal after a brief consultation with his video assistant. Thus the result remained a draw, leaving Jürgen Klopp's debut as national team coach with mixed feelings.
The German defence displayed solid performances despite the late defeat: ter Stegen reacted strongly against Dumfries and Meerdink, while Schlotterbeck, still finding rhythm after a serious World Cup injury, had to work his way back. In midfield Kimmich was particularly active and set up the opening goal with a pass to Nmecha.
Klopp expects a smooth debut against the Netherlands
The photo caption, taken by Martin Meissner, showed the acrobatic Cody Gakpo with the strike that made the 1‑1 final score. The scene was shared in the DFB‑Nationalliga app, where fans followed the late equaliser live.