Klopp says he knows more of the Dutch players than Xavi does, and both men start their new jobs in Amsterdam
Netherlands host Germany in the Nations League at 12.15am IST on Friday, with Jürgen Klopp and Xavi both taking charge for the first time after early World Cup exits.
Sep 24, 2026
Two national teams that went out of the World Cup early start again tonight in Amsterdam, and both have new men in the dugout. Netherlands host Germany in the opening round of the 2026-27 Nations League at the Johan Cruijff ArenA, with kick-off at 8.45pm local time, which is 12.15am on Friday in India.
It is Jürgen Klopp’s first match as Germany coach and Xavi’s first as coach of the Netherlands. Neither has had long with his players.
How both ended up here
Germany went out of the World Cup to Paraguay on penalties. Julian Nagelsmann stepped down, and on 24 July the German federation named Klopp on a four-year deal that runs to the 2030 World Cup, with Pep Lijnders, Peter Krawietz and Sven Bender on his staff.
The Netherlands lost to Morocco in the round of 32. Ronald Koeman left, and in August the KNVB gave Xavi a contract to 2030. He is the first foreign coach of the Dutch national team since Ernst Happel in the late 1970s.
So this is a fixture between two sides who expected more from North America, both led by coaches who have not managed a competitive game in more than two years. Klopp has been out of the dugout since leaving Liverpool in 2024. Xavi left Barcelona the same summer and turned down several jobs before this one.
Klopp knows the other dressing room
The obvious subplot is Virgil van Dijk. The Netherlands captain played under Klopp for more than six years at Liverpool, and Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch were also Klopp signings at Anfield.
Klopp made the point himself on the eve of the game. “I actually know more of the Dutch players personally than Xavi,” he said, before adding that he did not see it as much of an advantage. He also said he wants Germany to “play good football” and to be “a little surprising”.
He has picked two separate 22-man squads for the four Nations League games in September and October, with Joshua Kimmich as captain and a long list of uncapped players. Marc-Andre ter Stegen is back in the squad after a long injury absence. Brajan Gruda has withdrawn with an abdominal problem.
Xavi is already short up front
The Dutch have lost two forwards this week. Justin Kluivert was hurt playing in the Europa League against Real Sociedad and Donyell Malen came off injured in Roma’s game against Inter, and Xavi has called up Guus Til and Mexx Meerdink in their place.
Brian Brobbey is the man in form. He scored a hat-trick for Sunderland at the Etihad on Sunday and still ended up on the losing side, 5-3 to Manchester City. Opta counted him as only the sixth player to score a Premier League hat-trick and lose, and the first since Roque Santa Cruz in 2007.
Germany have the recent edge
The last two meetings came in the 2024-25 Nations League. The game in Amsterdam in September 2024 finished 2-2, and Germany won the return 1-0 in Munich a month later through a goal from Jamie Leweling on his debut. Germany are unbeaten in their last four against the Netherlands.
Group A2 also has Serbia and Greece in it, and they play each other on the same night. There are six rounds before the end of November, so nothing is decided in Amsterdam. Still, a new coach’s first result gets picked over for weeks, and each side has three more games before the October window closes.