XtraTime Web Desk: World football witnessed a sensational game as Nico Schulz scored a superb last-minute winner as Germany survived a Netherlands fightback in Amsterdam to earn a gripping 3-2 victory in Group C of Euro 2020 qualifying.
Germany coach Joachim Low named a side without a striker but goals from wingers Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sane, symbols of its new generation, established a 2-0 half-time lead.
Memphis Depay recorded a goal and an assist as Netherlands came from behind after the interval to seemingly claim a point at the Johan Cruijff ArenA on Sunday. Germany, though, earned revenge for last year’s 3-0 Nations League defeat against Ronald Koeman’s side, when Schulz got forward to finish brilliantly with his weaker right foot.
A Gnabry effort called Jasper Cillessen into early action before a perfectly timed Frenkie de Jong challenge halted the run of Joshua Kimmich, but Germany’s high-tempo start produced the opening goal in the 15th minute. Toni Kroos sent Schulz scampering down the left and, after neatly controlling the cross, Sane capitalised on De Ligt’s costly slip to slam home an excellent finish on the volley.
Manuel Neuer made two key saves in quick succession from Ryan Babel and Germany then extended its lead in stunning fashion in the 34th minute. Antonio Rudiger’s long ball sent Gnabry one on one with Virgil van Dijk, the Bayern Munich winger cutting in off the left, feinting to create space and crashing home his fifth Germany goal.
Netherlands got one back within three minutes of the restart, though, De Ligt rising highest to glance home a header from a superbly delivered left-wing Depay cross. And Depay equalised in the 64th minute with indecision in the Germany box allowing Georginio Wijnaldum to tee up the Lyon attacker for his seventh goal in eight internationals.
Both sides seemed to have settled for a point in the closing stages but Germany snatched all three at the death. Substitutes Ilkay Gundogan and Marco Reus combined to free Schulz and he picked out the bottom corner with an unerring strike to spark a new dawn for German football.