Germany all but wrapped up their place in the Nations League quarter-finals after Jamie Leweling’s debut goal saw them beat the Netherlands 1-0 in Munich.
In a patchy game where both teams were missing a number of first-team players, Leweling fired home in the second half to secure victory for the hosts.
Germany dominated the game for large periods and probably should have won by more than just the one-goal margin.
The defeat will be all the more frustrating for the Netherlands after Hungary’s 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina left them both on five points.
Germany held an on-pitch ceremony to honour four of their recently retired players before kick-off. Thomas Muller, Ilkay Gundogan and Manuel Neuer were in attendance, but Toni Kroos was absent.
The home crowd erupted after just two minutes when Leweling thought he had opened the scoring on his debut. Germany pounced on a mistake from Micky van de Ven but VAR intervened to rule out the goal for offside.
The hosts then went close through Maximilian Mittelstadt, before a rare foray forward for the Dutch saw Cody Gakpo’s looping cross go off the bar. Leweling was denied again when Stefan de Vrij smartly blocked his goal-bound effort, with a further effort from Kleindienst going wide.
However, Leweling finally put Germany ahead after the break by smashing home from just inside the box.
Xavi Simons then went agonisingly close for the visitors as they searched for an equaliser, but his shot hit the bar and went over.
Germany ultimately held on for victory to extend their lead at the top of Group A3 to five points, while the Netherlands will leave frustrated.
