Jürgen Klopp’s perfect debut didn’t materialize. The German national team had to settle for a 1-1 draw against the Netherlands in its Nations League opener. Nevertheless, the first elements of the new head coach’s approach were already evident in Amsterdam.
At times, Germany played with high intensity, pressing the opponent early and repeatedly forcing turnovers as a result. At the same time, it became clear that not all of the team’s plays are working yet after such a short period of preparation together.
After the final whistle, Joshua Kimmich gave an overall positive but thoroughly self-critical assessment on RTL. The DFB captain was particularly satisfied with the team’s performance in the first half.
Kimmich Praises Pressing Under Klopp
“It felt like an intense game—one in which not everything was perfect. We got off to a good start with our pressing, made some key ball recoveries, and should have made it 2-0 after going up 1-0,” Kimmich explained.
It was precisely this intensity that Klopp had demanded from his team ahead of his debut. Germany repeatedly tried to put early pressure on the Dutch and play quickly forward after winning the ball.
Kimmich himself also made a good impression. As Klopp had announced, the Bayern star played in central midfield and was involved in setting up Germany’s opening goal. With a precise diagonal pass, he initiated the play that Felix Nmecha finished off in the 32nd minute to make it 1-0.
From Kimmich’s perspective, however, the German national team should have capitalized more consistently on its strong run afterward. Instead of extending the lead, the match remained open until the very end.
“It was a deserved draw.”
After the break, the balance of power shifted increasingly in the Dutch team’s favor. The Dutch increased the pressure and created more scoring opportunities.
“In the second half, we did get the feeling that the Dutch were getting into the game better; they also had their chances. We might have needed to finish off one or two counterattacks better. But it was a well-deserved draw,” Kimmich analyzed.
In stoppage time, the German team was ultimately punished for failing to seal the deal earlier. Cody Gakpo scored the equalizer in the 92nd minute, denying Klopp his opening victory.
Despite the late goal, the match provided the first indications of how Germany is likely to play under Klopp in the future: aggressive pressing, high intensity, and quick transitions after winning the ball.
At the same time, Kimmich made it clear that the new national team coach still has work to do. The Bayern star saw promising signs against the Netherlands—but also plenty of situations where Germany needs to be even more consistent.