Nations League: Netherlands thrash wasteful Germany 3-0

Liverpool centre-back Virgil Van Dijk headed the opener, while Memphis Depay and Georginio Wijnaldum scored late goals as Netherlands thrashed Germany 3-0 to leave them at the bottom of Group A1 in Nations League on Saturday.

It was their first defeat in 16 years against the Dutch and was the first time Germany lost by three goals against the Netherlands. It was also their sixth defeat in 10 games for Joachim Loew’s side after their Russia World Cup disaster.

Van Dijk scored the opener from a Depay cross after Ryan Babel’s header had struck the crossbar in the first half-hour of the match. Depay then doubled the lead in the 86^th minute slotting the ball home from a Quincy Promes pass just as Germany went all out in search of the equaliser.

He hit the crossbar minutes later, but Germany’s misery was increased further when Wijnaldum fired a low shot into the bottom corner in the final minute of play.

Germany next face World champions France on Tuesday and have just one point from their two matches.

They had their chances to get the equaliser but both Muller and second-half substitute Leroy Sane hit wide when unmarked in front of goal.

The defeat Germany’s sixth in their last 10 games has put immense pressure on national coach Joachim Loew to resign after 12 years at the helm.

“After conceding, you could see that recent results have led to a lack of confidence,” Loew was quoted as saying by BBC following the defeat. “Why are we not scoring? That’s difficult to answer, we have clear chances.”

Meanwhile, the Netherlands, managed by former Everton boss Ronald Koeman, are second in the three-team group after beginning their campaign with a 1-2 defeat by France.

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