Xavi felt that his Netherlands team deserved more than a draw in their Nations League match against Germany after putting in a “superior” performance during the second half.
Making his debut with the Netherlands at Johan Cruijff Arena on Thursday, he saw his team finish the game with a 1-1 tie against Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Germany took an early lead in the 32nd minute through Felix Nmecha, who scored past Bart Verbruggen, although the Dutch players believed Brian Brobbey was fouled in the lead-up.
After halftime, the Netherlands showed dominance, with Denzel Dumfries having a shot saved by Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Mexx Meerdink’s goal being disallowed due to a foul by Virgil van Dijk.
Despite these setbacks, Xavi’s team earned a well-deserved equalizer in second-half stoppage time when Cody Gakpo expertly volleyed a cross from Ruben van Bommel into the net.
In the second half, the Netherlands raised their expected goals (xG) from 0.57 to 2.61 while outshooting Germany 14 to 5, creating five significant chances compared to none for their opponents, and having far more touches in the box (26 to 11).
Overall, the Netherlands recorded an xG of 3.18, surpassing Germany’s 1.45, marking the first instance since June 2019 that they exceeded an xG of 3.0 against a top-30 ranked nation.
“We were a bit anxious in the first half,” Xavi said. “At halftime, I emphasized the need for us to show more personality and ambition.”
“I saw that improvement in the second half. I’m pleased the players recognized our superiority after the break.”
“We definitely deserved more. We created numerous chances, applied effective pressure, and took the initiative.”
“While I’m not satisfied with the number of duels we lost, I feel positive overall.”
“The debutants also performed admirably. Mexx Meerdink was versatile and consistently engaged, and Ruben van Bommel contributed significantly with his ball recovery and assist.”
Mister! pic.twitter.com/VQTor1jTJ0
— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) September 24, 2026
However, there are concerns for Xavi after the match, as Brobbey had to leave the field in the 35th minute due to an apparent hamstring injury.
The Sunderland forward entered the international break after recently scoring a hat-trick against Manchester City, but the severity of his injury remains unclear.
Xavi confirmed that Brobbey would not participate in the remainder of the Netherlands’ matches and indicated that another striker would be called up as a replacement.
“Unfortunately, Brian is injured, so we’ll summon another striker, although we haven’t decided who yet,” Xavi noted about Brobbey’s situation.
Brobbey’s injury ultimately led to Germany’s opening goal, as the Netherlands were frustrated when their opponents chose not to stop the play, appearing to have been prepared to kick the ball out.
Instead, Nadiem Amiri and Joshua Kimmich continued their attack, resulting in Nmecha scoring following a flicked cross from Nathaniel Brown.
“It’s common to pause for play when a player is down, even if there are no formal rules regarding it. Their choice not to do so was unsportsmanlike,” Gakpo commented on Germany’s goal.
“We kept pressing and creating opportunities. Scoring the equalizer was satisfying.”
Fan Take: This match is significant for soccer fans as it highlights the promising talent emerging from the Netherlands, underlining Xavi’s potential to shape the new generation. The performance could indicate a resurgence for the Dutch national team, promising exciting times ahead in international competitions.
Source: www.soccernews.com
