Germany‘s footballers became the first team to secure participation in the March quarter-finals of the 2024/2025 Nations League. They won the final with Monday’s 1:0 triumph over the Netherlands, which Jamie Leweling took care of in his debut in the Munich arena. The Germans will thus occupy one of the first two places in the 3rd group of the A-division.
news-item-description">France’s football players won Monday’s Nations League match against Belgium 2:1. Striker Randal Kolo Muani from Paris Saint-Germain scored both goals for the visitors, and his team kept the three points despite a numerical disadvantage at the end of the match. In another A-Division 4th round clash between Germany and the Netherlands, just one goal was scored by home Jamie Leweling, but it was enough to give the Germans a 1-0 win and a place in the quarter-finals.
Leweling was originally not even supposed to play. The 23-year-old Stuttgart winger was added to the Germany squad after Jamal Musial was injured and was supposed to start on the bench against the Netherlands. However, Deniz Undav was injured in the warm-up and Leweling was given a place in the starting line-up.
He could have been on the scoresheet already in the 2nd minute, but the goal was disallowed due to close offside. He finally got it after an hour of the game, when he got to the rebound after a corner kick and made the decision with a cannonball from inside the penalty area.
“A good match. I scored a goal, we won and I’m happy that I could help. The Dutch are among the top, but we played a really good match.” said Leweling after the match for ZDF.
Despite numerous absences, the Germans dominated the game and allowed the opponent a single shot into the goal area. “We allowed them very little. The first half was the best we have played as a team this year. Our victory is absolutely deserved.” rejoiced home coach Julian Nagelsmann, who on Monday celebrated exactly one year since his first match on the bench for Germany. In it, on October 14, 2023, his team defeated the USA 3:1.
“We want to achieve even more and feel it in the atmosphere in the cabin. Everyone was ‘excited’ today and wanted to win.” The coach also praised the hero of the evening, Leweling: “I admit that he surprised me. I didn’t expect him to play so well.”
Under the leadership of Nagelsmann, the Germans won 10 out of 17 meetings. Their only loss this year came in the quarter-finals of the European Championship against eventual champions Spain 1-2 after extra time.
Captain Joshua Kimmich says the team is well on its way to reaching the top again: “Everybody in this team has what it takes. Everyone wants to play and win. We’re proud of today’s performance. We had a lot of new players in the lineup, some young players, but it wasn’t a big difference compared to the previous duels. And Jamie had a great debut. ”
Goalkeeper Oliver Baumann from Hoffenheim also made his first national team start at the age of 34 and kept a clean sheet. He became the oldest debuting goalkeeper in the history of the national team.
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The Dutch were missing the suspended captain Virgil van Dijk. Stefan de Vrij put the armband on his sleeve instead and he emphasized to uefa.com that the team’s performance was not good: “We wanted to play a better game, although we know that Germany has a very strong team. We have to evaluate it and improve. We can still achieve something in the Nations League. Next month will be crucial, especially at home against Hungary. We think positively and try to win the November games .”
The Dutch are currently in second place in the table with five points and a five-point deficit to the leader Germany. However, only one score behind them is Hungary, who won 2:0 in Bosnia and Herzegovina on Monday. The secret with the name of the second advancer can be solved already by the mutual duel between the Netherlands and Hungary on November 16 in Amsterdam. Their first match in Budapest ended in a 1-1 draw.
Germany’s Glory: A Triumph of Tactics and Tenacity
news-item-description">Well, well, well! In a dramatic turn of events that would make even the most seasoned scriptwriter shed a tear, Germany’s footballers have officially secured their spot in the coveted quarter-finals of the 2024/2025 Nations League. A nail-biting 1-0 victory over the Netherlands—a result brought to you by Jamie Leweling in his debut match—has made them the first team to reach this stage. Three cheers for the Germans, or should we say “Guten Tag!”?
Randal Kolo Muani Shines for France
Not to be outdone, France also had a little something to say on Monday, defeating Belgium 2-1 with Randal Kolo Muani turning the game on its head with both goals. Sounds easy, right? Well, not when you consider France played with one less player at the end! Talk about thrilling football—suddenly an afternoon nap doesn’t seem as appealing!
A Star is Born—Sort of
Now, let’s shine a spotlight on our hero of the hour, Jamie Leweling. Originally destined to watch from the sidelines, Leweling found himself thrust into action when Deniz Undav took a tumble in warm-up. Talk about being in the right place at the right time—perhaps we should start charging a little more for destiny’s VIP tickets!
In the second minute, Leweling appeared ready to turn the match into a personal highlight reel, only for his goal to be disallowed for offside. Better luck next time, right? But persistence paid off, and by the hour mark, Leweling blasted home a relieved cannonball that left the Dutch reeling. After the match, he grinned, “A good match. I scored a goal, we won and I’m happy that I could help.” It’s hard to argue with that!
Nagelsmann Celebrates a Year of Success
It’s been exactly one year since coach Julian Nagelsmann took charge of this German squad, and if you weren’t aware, he marked the occasion with a decisive victory that would make the “Game of Thrones” finale look like a light-hearted romp through the park. Nagelsmann was understandably chuffed, declaring his team played their best half of football this year. “Our victory is absolutely deserved,” he declared, punctuating his point with the authority of a chess master checkmating a novice.
Looking Ahead: The Dutch Set Sights on Redemption
But it wasn’t all fun and games for the Dutch. Missing their star captain, Virgil van Dijk, they stumbled through the evening, failing to land a single shot on target until they were already down a goal. Stefan de Vrij, wearing the captain’s armband, echoed the sentiments of a dejected pub patron as he lamented, “We wanted to play a better game.” Unfortunately, it’s hard to play well when you’re too busy holding your beer and shaking your head at your own team’s performance!
Can the Dutch Dig Deep?
The Netherlands find themselves in a pickle, currently second in their grouping, facing a must-win scenario in their next matchup against Hungary. Here’s hoping their training ground strategy includes a bit more zest than last night’s flat soda! The upcoming clash should make for gripping viewing, particularly with so much on the line.
A Goalkeeper’s First and The Beauty of Youth
Let’s not forget the milestone moment for Oliver Baumann, the oldest debuting goalkeeper for Germany. At 34, he managed to keep a clean sheet—proof that sometimes, like fine wine—or cheese—the best things come with age! He embodies the spirit of a campaign: providing experience while leaving the youth to run around with endless energy—and apparently fewer injuries!
Final Thoughts
As Germany revels in their triumph and looks towards future games, one thing is for sure: the beautiful game continues to surprise, delight, and occasionally confuse us all. Bring on November and may the best team win—though, let’s be honest, most of us will just be tuning in for the drama, the chaos, and perhaps a cheeky pint.
