Germany boost confidence with late 2-1 win against the Netherlands

Niclas Füllkrug scored late in the game to give Germany a 2-1 comeback win over the Netherlands on Tuesday and a very important boost of confidence ahead of the Euro 2024 on home soil.

The Netherlands broke the deadlock with just four minutes played as Joey Veerman completed a fine pass from Memphis Depay with a skilful finish.

But Germany didn't take long to find the equalizer and were level in the 11th thanks to Maximilian Mittelstädt.

The Euro 2024 hosts had a great chance to take the lead in the 18th, when Ilkay Gündogan received a fine pass from Jamal Musiala, but Gündogan's effort from close range was saved by keeper Bart Verbruggen.

The winner came only in the 85th and in a dramatic way. Füllkrug finished off a corner from Toni Kroos into the net and initially it looked like Verbruggen had made another great save.

But the goal-line technology showed that the ball had already crossed the line and the goal was confirmed by the referee.

"The good news is that we played two very good friendly matches. The bad news is that it won't earn us any points for the tournament," Toni Kroos told broadcasters RTL.

The midfielder said that the team would have "half collapsed" a few months ago if they were behind in the scoring, "but that didn't happen" against the Netherlands.

Germany finished 2023 deep into a crisis with defeats to Turkey and Austria, but started the year with a 2-0 win over France in Lyon last Saturday.

Before their Euro 2024 opening game against Scotland on June 14, Germany still have two friendly matches against Ukraine on June 3 and Greece on June 7.

The Netherlands start the Euro 2024 on June 16 against Poland.

Jonathan Tah was too late to take Mittelstädt's backpass and allowed Depay to make a fine pass to the centre of the penalty area, where Veerman took the ball to hit the net.

Mittelstädt made up for his early mistake and finished off Musiala's cross into the net with a powerful shot in the 11th. But Gündogan wasn't able to convert a great chance from short-range to put Germany ahead just seven minutes later.

Netherlands tried to take back the lead in a free-kick as Matthijs de Ligt headed the ball onto the floor and to Donyell Malen, but Gündogan reached the ball first to clear it.

The Dutch side kicked off the second half with the best chances. In the 54th, Depay was fouled close to the area. Daley Blind was in charge the free-kick, but sent it well over the crossbar.

In the 61st it was Depay who got close to scoring after Mittelstädt was unable to clear the ball.

But Germany were back on track in the 76th, forcing Verbruggen to make a stunning save to deny Musiala from close range. The Bayern Munich midfielder received a great pass inside the box in the 81st, but his cleats got stuck on the ground and he fell down before he could attempt the goal.

Substitute Thomas Müller's powerful strike in the 83rd was brilliantly saved by Verbruggen, before Füllkrug was finally on target in the 85th.

Germany's winner was only celebrated after the goal-line technology confirmed the ball had already crossed the line when Verbruggen made the save.

Coach Julian Nagelsmann complained about the bad pitch conditions, especially due to the incident involving Musiala.

"Unfortunately, the pitch was a catastrophe, a real catastrophe. There were a lot of situations in the final third in which we slipped," he told RTL.