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NATIONS LEAGUE

Nations League: Netherlands into finals after comeback in Germany

Late goals by Quincy Promes and Virgil van Dijk secured the Dutch an unlikely point in Germany and sent Ronald Koeman's side into the finals.

Update:
Virgil van Dijk.
Soccrates ImagesGetty Images

Germany 2-2 Netherlands: report

Netherlands scored twice in the last five minutes to recover from two goals down and earn a 2-2 draw against relegated Germany in the Nations League on Monday to secure a spot in next year's finals ahead of world champions France.

Virgil van Dijk struck a close-range volley in stoppage time to equalise for the visitors after Quincy Promes had cut the deficit in the 85th minute with the Germans having led through early goals from Timo Werner and Leroy Sane.

Switzerland, England and hosts Portugal had already qualified for the four-team finals in June.

The Germans, who suffered a shock first-round exit at the World Cup in June and lost a German record six times this year, are in last place in League A Group 1 behind France, who just missed out the finals, and the table-topping Dutch.

Germany 2-2 Netherlands: as it happened

Germany - Netherlands live online: preview

Germany are relegated from their Nations League group and Netherlands have done an excellent job under Ronald Koeman in restoring some pride in the orange jersey after a forgettable few years. But they both still desperately need to win for different reasons when they meet in Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen on Monday night at 20:45 CET.

Joachim Loew is without Sami Khedira, who pulled out of the squad recently, but Marco Reus could return. A victory over Russia will do little to paper over the increasingly visible cracks in Germany's national team but a win against Netherlands might help after Manuel Neuer says they have promised the coach they can turn it around. If they can't win, however, it will mean four games in the Nations League and zero wins after a horrific World Cup campaign that saw them eliminated in the group stage.

Netherlands beat France on Friday night with Memphis Depay putting on a virtuoso performance as he reminds the world why Manchester United were keen to sign him for over €30 million back in 2015. Koeman, who needed a reputation revamp himself, after poor spells with Sunderland and Southampton, is working wonders with a young, fresh and exciting new generation of Oranje talent. A win over Germany and a place in the final four of the Nations League next June would add to the intrigue growing around this team. He should keep the same side that beat the World Cup winners on Friday with no new injuries and everyone raring to go and beate Germany on home soil.