The Netherlands and Germany renew one of European football’s great rivalries on Thursday night, but this meeting feels different.
When the two teams walk out at the Johan Cruijff ArenA, much of the attention will be on the touchline. Xavi Hernández will take charge of the Netherlands for the first time, while Jürgen Klopp begins his new chapter as Germany head coach.
Two new managers. Two teams looking for a fresh start. And a Nations League opener that should tell us plenty about where both sides are heading.
Netherlands vs Germany: Match Details
Competition: UEFA Nations League 2026/27 Group: League A – Group A2 Date: Thursday, September 24, 2026 Kick-off: 20:45 CEST / 18:45 GMT Venue: Johan Cruijff ArenA, Amsterdam Netherlands coach: Xavi Hernández Germany coach: Jürgen Klopp
The Netherlands and Germany share Group A2 with Serbia and Greece, making a strong start in Amsterdam valuable for both sides.
Xavi's First Night With the Netherlands
There will be plenty of curiosity around the Netherlands.
Xavi has had very little time to work with his new players, but his early message has been clear: he wants his team to take the initiative.
That should sound familiar to anyone who followed Xavi as a player or during his coaching career.
His footballing education was built around controlling possession, creating passing options and trying to dictate matches rather than simply reacting to the opposition. Translating those principles to international football, where coaches have far less time with their players, will be the challenge.
Thursday gives us the first opportunity to see what his Netherlands might look like.
One thing will not change immediately: Virgil van Dijk remains captain and will continue to provide experience and leadership at the heart of the Dutch defence.
There are changes elsewhere, though.
Memphis Depay has not been included in Xavi's first squad, opening the door for other attacking players to make their case.
Brian Brobbey Has a Chance to Make His Mark
One of those players is Brian Brobbey.
The striker arrives for international duty after scoring a hat-trick for Sunderland against Manchester City, and his form makes him one of the most interesting Dutch players heading into the game.
Brobbey offers something slightly different.
He can play with his back to goal, compete physically with central defenders and provide a focal point for players arriving from midfield and the wings.
Alongside attacking players such as Cody Gakpo, he could give Xavi the tools to build a Netherlands side that combines possession with a more direct threat when necessary.
There are also opportunities for new faces. Ruben van Bommel, Gjivai Zechiël and Mexx Meerdink are among the players hoping to earn their first senior international appearances.
Klopp Finally Takes Charge of Germany
If Xavi's appointment is fascinating, Germany's new era might attract even more attention.
Jürgen Klopp is back in the dugout.
After hugely successful spells with Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool, Klopp is entering international management for the first time.
The environment will be completely different from club football. There are fewer training sessions, less time to develop complicated tactical patterns and long breaks between international windows.
But Klopp's basic footballing principles are unlikely to disappear.
His best teams have traditionally played with energy, aggressive pressing and an ability to turn defensive situations into attacks very quickly.
The question is how much of that identity Germany can show after only a short period together.
Klopp has already suggested that changes are coming. Germany want to play faster and become more competitive, but he has avoided making big promises before his first game.
Amsterdam will provide the first evidence of what that new Germany might eventually become.
Xavi vs Klopp Adds Another Layer to the Rivalry
This is where the match becomes particularly interesting.
Xavi and Klopp have very different coaching backgrounds, but both want their teams to be proactive.
Xavi generally wants control through the ball.
Klopp has traditionally looked for control through intensity, pressing and movement.
That contrast could create a fascinating tactical battle.
If the Netherlands attempt to patiently build from defence, Germany's pressing could immediately test how comfortable the Dutch players are with Xavi's demands.
If Germany press too aggressively, however, they could leave spaces behind their midfield.
That is where players such as Cody Gakpo, Ryan Gravenberch and Tijjani Reijnders could become dangerous.
Neither manager has had enough time to completely reshape his team, so expecting a perfect tactical performance would be unrealistic.
In fact, the imperfections might make the match more entertaining.
Jamal Musiala Could Be Germany's Difference-Maker
For all the discussion surrounding Klopp, matches are ultimately decided by players.
And Germany have Jamal Musiala.
The Bayern Munich playmaker remains one of Germany's biggest attacking threats because of his ability to receive the ball in tight spaces, beat defenders and carry possession through midfield.
The Netherlands will need to prevent him from finding too much room between their midfield and defensive lines.
Germany also have experience through Joshua Kimmich, while attacking options including Kai Havertz, Serge Gnabry and Kevin Schade give Klopp several different ways to structure his front line.
There are new faces too.
Younes Ebnoutalib has received his first senior Germany call-up after an impressive start to the season, while young Bayern creator Lennart Karl is another player worth watching.
Klopp's first selections suggest that reputation alone will not guarantee anyone a place in his Germany team.
A Familiar Rivalry Returns
Netherlands against Germany is not a fixture that needs much promotion.
These two countries have produced some unforgettable encounters over the decades, with their football rivalry stretching across generations.
One of the most famous came at Euro 1988.
The Netherlands defeated West Germany 2-1 in the semi-final, with Marco van Basten scoring the late winner before Oranje went on to lift the European Championship.
More recently, the countries met twice during the previous Nations League campaign.
Their meeting in Amsterdam ended 2-2, before Germany claimed a 1-0 victory in the return game in Munich.
That recent history should only add to the atmosphere on Thursday night.
The Midfield Battle Could Decide the Game
The centre of the pitch may be where this match is won and lost.
The Netherlands have technically strong midfielders who are comfortable receiving possession under pressure. Germany, meanwhile, now have a coach whose teams have historically tried to make opponents uncomfortable whenever they have the ball.
How the Dutch midfield responds to that pressure will be important.
If the Netherlands can break through Germany's first line of pressing, they may find space to attack.
But losing possession while building from the back could give Germany exactly the type of transition opportunities Klopp's teams have traditionally enjoyed.
The wide areas will matter too.
The Netherlands have players capable of stretching the pitch and attacking from the flanks, but committing numbers forward always carries a risk against a team with Germany's pace.
It could become a game of fine margins.
More Than Just Three Points
It is only the first match of the Nations League campaign, so neither team's season will be defined by what happens in Amsterdam.
But the game still matters.
Both countries are beginning again after disappointing World Cup campaigns. Both have appointed high-profile coaches. Both are trying to establish a new identity.
That makes Thursday night an early test rather than simply another international fixture.
For Xavi, it is the first chance to show Dutch supporters what he wants his Netherlands team to become.
For Klopp, it is the beginning of something he has never attempted before: managing his country.
And they begin against each other.
Netherlands vs Germany: A New Chapter Begins
There is already enough history between the Netherlands and Germany to fill books.
Thursday night is about what comes next.
Xavi will stand in the Netherlands dugout for the first time. Klopp will do the same for Germany. Around them will be established stars, emerging players and two teams trying to rediscover their best football.
We should not expect either side to look finished.
But we should get the first clues.
And with the Johan Cruijff ArenA providing the setting for one of European football's classic rivalries, it is difficult to imagine a more intriguing way for the Xavi and Klopp eras to begin.
