Germany took a crucial step towards the Nations League quarter-finals with a 2-1 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, thanks to a brace from Deniz Undav. At the same time, the Netherlands showed resilience by rescuing a 1-1 draw against Hungary, despite playing with 10 men in Budapest. These results have set up an exciting clash between Germany and Netherlands next Monday, with both teams vying for a place in the knockout stages.
Germany’s Resilience Shines Through
Germany displayed their quality in Zenica, where they delivered a solid performance to secure the three points. The opening goal came in the 30th minute, with Stuttgart’s Deniz Undav scoring from close range after a clever backheel assist from Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz. The goal was a reward for Germany’s early dominance, as they controlled possession and created numerous chances.
Undav doubled Germany’s advantage in the second half, finishing a precise cross from Maximilian Mittlestaedt to make it 2-0. The goal showcased Germany’s fluid attacking play, as they combined well in the final third to break down a resilient Bosnia defense.
Despite Germany’s control, Bosnia and Herzegovina found a way back into the game through their veteran forward Edin Džeko. The 38-year-old former Manchester City striker, still a threat at the international level, headed in from a corner in the 70th minute to score his 67th goal for his country. His effort sparked a period of pressure from Bosnia, but Germany’s defense stood firm to close out the win.
The victory moves Germany to seven points from three games, leaving them two points ahead of the Netherlands, who they will face in a crucial match on Monday. A win against the Dutch would guarantee Germany a spot in the Nations League quarter-finals.
Dumfries Saves 10-Man Netherlands
In Budapest, Hungary looked poised to take all three points against the Netherlands after a strong performance. Roland Sallai opened the scoring in the 32nd minute with a close-range finish after a perfect pass from Zsolt Nagy, giving Hungary a deserved lead.
The Dutch, struggling to break down a solid Hungarian defense, faced an uphill battle when Virgil van Dijk was sent off in the 79th minute for a professional foul. Hungary, sensing a historic win, pushed forward in search of a second goal to seal the victory.
However, just four minutes after Van Dijk’s dismissal, the Netherlands showed their fighting spirit. Denzel Dumfries rose highest to meet a Cody Gakpo free-kick, heading in the equalizer to silence the home crowd. Despite being a man down, the Dutch managed to hold on for a valuable point.
For Hungary, the draw was a missed opportunity to defeat the Netherlands for the first time since their 8-1 thrashing in 2013. Despite this, they can take confidence from their strong performance as they aim to secure a respectable finish in the group.
With five points, the Netherlands remain in the hunt for a quarter-final spot but will need to win against Germany in Munich on Monday to guarantee progression.
Action from Around Europe
In other Nations League matches, Wales squandered a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 with Iceland. Brennan Johnson and Harry Wilson had given Wales a comfortable lead at halftime, but Iceland’s substitute Logi Tomasson turned the game on its head in the second half. Tomasson scored twice, the second goal coming from a long-range effort that bounced awkwardly off Wales goalkeeper Danny Ward and into the net.
Meanwhile, Turkey secured a narrow 1-0 win over Montenegro, keeping their qualification hopes alive. In a tightly contested match, a single goal was enough for the Turks to take all three points and stay in contention in their group.
Sweden also let slip a 2-0 lead, drawing 2-2 with Slovakia in a dramatic encounter. Yasin Ayari and Ken Sema put Sweden in the driver’s seat early on, but David Strelec scored twice for Slovakia to earn them a point. The result leaves both teams on seven points, but Sweden remains on top due to a superior goal difference.
Elsewhere, the Czech Republic defeated Albania 2-0, with Tomas Chory scoring both goals. The result puts the Czechs level on points with group leaders Georgia, who suffered a 1-0 defeat to Ukraine.
Germany vs Netherlands: The Showdown
Germany’s upcoming clash with the Netherlands promises to be a thrilling encounter, with both teams in need of a positive result to secure a place in the Nations League quarter-finals. With just two points separating the sides, Monday’s match in Munich could determine who advances to the next round.
Germany, buoyed by their win over Bosnia, will be full of confidence, while the Netherlands will be looking to build on their hard-fought draw in Hungary. All eyes will be on this heavyweight showdown as both nations aim to continue their Nations League journey.
