UEFA Nations League 2026/27 — Matchday 1, Group A2
Thursday 24/09/2026, 20:45 Amsterdam time (CEST) — 11:45 AM California time (PDT), 01:45 AM Friday 25/09 Vietnam time (ICT)
Johan Cruijff ArenA, Amsterdam — TV in Germany: RTL

Nearly three months after the round-of-16 exit at the 2026 World Cup, Germany begin a whole new chapter. On Thursday night (24/9), Jürgen Klopp takes charge of the national team for the first time — and the opposition could hardly be heavier: arch-rivals the Netherlands, in Amsterdam, in the Nations League 2026/27 opener. A proper trial by fire for the new era.

Klopp’s personnel revolution

The new head coach made waves at the squad announcement on 17/9: 44 players called up for four Nations League matches, split into two separate groups. As Klopp himself explained: “This is very unusual for a national team, having to play four matches in two weeks” — and his philosophy is clear: “When the team’s axis is really stable, you can be a little ‘crazy’ around it and mix in a lot of young players.”

That axis: Marc-André ter Stegen in goal — confirmed as the No. 1 “for the moment” (für den Moment); the centre-back pairing of Jonathan Tah and Nico Schlotterbeck; captain Joshua Kimmich pulled back into his preferred central midfield role; and Kai Havertz leading the line.

Late changes: Brajan Gruda suffered an abdominal muscle tear and had to withdraw — Klopp called up no replacement. Meanwhile, Karim Adeyemi was promoted to group 1, swapping places with young talent Lennart Karl, who moved to group 2; the DFB described it as “load management”.

Across the pitch, the Netherlands are also in transition under new head coach Xavi Hernández (per bundesliga.com). Notably, the Oranje squad includes two Bundesliga-based faces: Joey Veerman (Dortmund) and goalkeeper Mark Flekken (Leverkusen).

Probable lineups

Predicted — compiled from tipico.de, Sky/Lothar Matthäus, absolut-fussball and neunzigplus. The official lineup will be announced by the DFB about one hour before kick-off.

Germany (4-3-3): ter Stegen — Vagnoman (or Treu), Tah, Schlotterbeck, Brown — Kimmich, Nmecha, Amiri (or Musiala) — Adeyemi (or Gnabry), Havertz, Schade.
Netherlands (4-3-3, per tipico.de): Verbruggen — Dumfries, van Dijk, van Hecke, Timber — van de Ven, Gravenberch, Reijnders — Summerville, Brobbey, Gakpo.

Head-to-head

This will be the 49th meeting between the sides. After 48 encounters: Germany 18 wins, Netherlands 12, 18 draws. The last two also came in the Nations League (2024): a 2-2 draw in Amsterdam and a 1-0 German win in Munich (Jamie Leweling). Germany are unbeaten in four straight against their rivals. The most famous clash of all: the 1974 World Cup final, when West Germany beat Johan Cruyff’s Netherlands 2-1.

Three tactical keys

1. Klopp’s pressing with barely one or two training sessions. Klopp himself admitted: “It might get a little ‘wild'” (per dpa). High gegenpressing against a pacey Netherlands side — the biggest gamble of the night.
2. Germany’s midfield axis vs the Dutch midfield. Kimmich–Nmecha up against Gravenberch–Reijnders–van de Ven. As Klopp stressed: “If you only think about attacking, the defence will always ‘kill’ you” (per dpa).
3. Pace on the flanks. Brown, Treu or Vagnoman must shackle Dumfries and Gakpo; at the other end, Schade and Adeyemi are Klopp’s counter-attacking weapons — in front of a Johan Cruijff ArenA expected to be packed (per the SID report).

Prediction

1-1 draw — Germany have had only about one or two sessions together, and they are away from home; the Netherlands are also in transition under new coach Xavi (per bundesliga.com). This is the author’s subjective opinion.

Did you know? Per bundesliga.com, the DFB confirmed Germany will wear their World Cup 1990-inspired away kit — a symbolic detail for a new beginning.