Ter Stegen: Brilliant and Blunderous in Germany's 1-1 Draw with Netherlands
Amsterdam witnessed a dampener on German euphoria. Following a late equalizer, the German national team settled for a 1-1 draw against the Netherlands in Jürgen Klopp's debut match in the Nations League. Here's a look at the DFB players' individual performances.
Felix Nmecha put the DFB team ahead in the 32nd minute. In the second half, the Netherlands created several promising opportunities before Cody Gakpo scored a deserved equalizer in the 90+2nd minute.
On Sunday, the DFB team faces Greece in Augsburg. Following that, they have a home match against Serbia in Munich and a return fixture away against Greece.
DFB Team Player Ratings vs. Netherlands: Marc-André ter Stegen
Appointed by Jürgen Klopp as the provisional starting goalkeeper, his performance in Amsterdam leaves questions. Ter Stegen's actions swung between disastrous and outstanding. He showed significant issues with commanding his penalty area on crosses, contributing to two disallowed goals (12th and 62nd minutes). Fortunately for ter Stegen, both Dutch goals were ruled out for fouls. His passing was repeatedly uncertain. In the 42nd minute, a fatal error in his passing directly to Cody Gakpo put his team in a precarious position. However, after several crucial saves, ter Stegen delivered four excellent reflexes in the second half against shots from Denzel Dumfries (60th), Mexx Meerdink (62nd), Meerdink again (73rd), and Noa Lang (89th). He was helpless for the late equalizer. Rating: 3.5.
DFB Team Player Ratings vs. Netherlands: Philipp Treu
The only debutant to be included in the starting lineup, the 25-year-old from Freiburg showed ambition in his forward play on the right flank. Before the 1-0 goal, Treu set up Adeyemi with a low cross, which Nmecha eventually converted. At times, his positional play defensively appeared disoriented, though this was also attributable to the overall lack of defensive cover from the German team. Rating: 3.
DFB Team Player Ratings vs. Netherlands: Jonathan Tah
Klopp opted for the center-back pairing of Tah and Schlotterbeck, a duo also favored by former national coach Julian Nagelsmann. Tah initially struggled with the physically strong Brian Brobbey. In the 11th minute, Tah decisively hampered Brobbey during a duel in the penalty area. Referee Hernandez Hernandez allowed play to continue. The same applied to the subsequent scene where Tah's shot struck Tijjani Reijnders' outstretched right hand. Brobbey was substituted due to injury in the 35th minute, making Tah's task somewhat easier thereafter. Tah was too far away during Meerdink's clear chance (66th). Rating: 4.
DFB Team Player Ratings vs. Netherlands: Nico Schlotterbeck
He exhibited several minor lapses in concentration. Schlotterbeck did not jump high enough during the ultimately disallowed van Dijk goal (12th). Towards the end of the first half, he also committed a careless turnover near his own penalty area. On the positive side, he delivered some good passes. Rating: 4.
DFB Team Player Ratings vs. Netherlands: Nathaniel Brown
Initially, he showed offensive intent: In the 38th minute, Brown pushed forward and perfectly set up Adeyemi, who, however, missed a clear chance from close range. Defensively, like the entire German team, he was shaky. For the late equalizer, Brown lost sight of Gakpo. Rating: 4.
DFB Team Player Ratings vs. Netherlands: Felix Nmecha
Initially inconspicuous, he then tapped in from close range for the 1-0. The German midfield, as a whole, repeatedly appeared disorganized in defensive play. Rating: 3.
DFB Team Player Ratings vs. Netherlands: Joshua Kimmich
Returning to central midfield from right-back, he enriched Germany's play with good passes. His switch to Treu initiated Nmecha's 1-0 goal. However, Kimmich also failed to provide the necessary defensive security. Rating: 3.
DFB Team Player Ratings vs. Netherlands: Nadiem Amiri
He was unexpectedly drafted into the starting lineup due to Jamal Musiala reporting thigh problems during warm-up. He operated on the left-central area but was rarely involved in possession there. Nonetheless, he played a brilliant pass that set up Brown for Adeyemi's clear chance. Rating: 4.
DFB Team Player Ratings vs. Netherlands: Karim Adeyemi
He was initially as dynamic on the right wing as he has been recently for FC Barcelona. Adeyemi was involved in the buildup to the 1-0 goal but then missed a golden opportunity to make it 2-0, shooting from about ten meters after a perfect pass from Brown. His performance then significantly declined. Rating: 4.
DFB Team Player Ratings vs. Netherlands: Kai Havertz
Germany's center-forward found it difficult to get into the game. He first came into focus when he went down in the 22nd minute after a nasty kick from Quinten Timber to his knee and thigh. Havertz attempted to continue but had to be substituted shortly after. Rating: 4.
DFB Team Player Ratings vs. Netherlands: Kevin Schade
In his sixth international appearance, he was substituted in the 64th minute after an overall unremarkable performance. Rating: 4.
DFB Team Player Ratings vs. Netherlands: Substitutes
Younes Ebnoutalib: Came on in the 30th minute for the injured Havertz and immediately made an impact. Just one minute after his introduction, he was denied by Bart Verbruggen with a good shot from a tight angle. Ebnoutalib then faded from the game. Rating: 4.
Chris Führich: Replaced Schade in the 63rd minute. Rating: 4.
Anton Stach: Also replaced Nmecha in the 63rd minute and slotted into central midfield. Rating: 4.
Serge Gnabry: Six days after his comeback for FC Bayern, Gnabry also made his first brief appearance for the DFB team. He was substituted on for Adeyemi in the 80th minute. He was responsible for the crucial turnover before the equalizer. No rating assigned.
Yannik Engelhardt: Came on as a substitute for Amiri in the 80th minute, making his DFB debut. No rating assigned.
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