CODY GAPKO SCORED in stoppage time to snatch a 1-1 draw for the Netherlands at home to Germany on Jurgen Klopp’s debut in the visiting dugout in the Nations League on Thursday.
Germany led through a first-half strike from Felix Nmecha but Gakpo fired home a superb volley in the closing moments from a Ruben van Bommel cross.
The late equaliser was just rewards for the hosts who were aggressive and dominated much of the match under coach Xavi Hernandez, who was taking charge of the Netherlands for the first time.
Injuries to Jamal Musiala, who was scratched from the starting XI with a thigh complaint after the warm-up, and Kai Havertz, who left the field in the first half, could further sour things for Germany with three games remaining this international break.
Klopp took the reins after Germany’s last-32 elimination by Paraguay at the summer’s World Cup, their third straight early exit at a tournament they have won four times.
Portugal 1-0 Wales
Joao Felix scored the only goal with a long-range shot as reigning Nations League champions Portugal opened their campaign with a 1-0 home win over Wales.
Portugal, who have won two of the four finals since the competition was launched in 2018, dominated possession and outshot Wales 19-4 in Lisbon but squandered a string of chances.
Their only goal came after 22 minutes when a low scuffed shot by Felix from the edge of the box took a slight deflection off Wales captain Ben Davies and skipped inside the far post beyond Danny Ward’s desperate dive.
As it has for some two decades, Portugal’s attack revolved around Cristiano Ronaldo. Every time the 41-year-old, who made his national debut in 2003 and has since scored a record 146 international goals, touched the ball near the goal, the roar of the home crowd rose several octaves.
Ronaldo found the side netting once and shinned an inviting volley high over from close range. After an hour he slid the ball into the Wales net but, to his evident disbelief, was ruled offside.
He was still shaking his head when he was replaced seven minutes later.
The crowd grew quieter and Portugal’s play drifted after Ronaldo’s departure.
Wales came agonisingly close to equalising, twice, from their one good chance.
First, Brennan Johnson chipped goalkeeper Diogo Costa and hit the face of the bar. With Costa stranded, Lewis Koumas and Dan James both went for the rebound. Koumas ended up shooting tamely straight at defender Ruben Dias on the line.
Uefa Nations League results on Thursday:
League A
Group 2
In Amsterdam
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Netherlands 1 (Gakpo 90+2) Germany 1 (Nmecha 32)
In Belgrade
Serbia 1 (Zivkovic 4) Greece 2 (Tzolis 74, Douvikas 90+5)
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Last-gasp Gakpo strike snatches Dutch draw to sour Klopp's Germany debut
Netherlands 1-1 Germany
CODY GAPKO SCORED in stoppage time to snatch a 1-1 draw for the Netherlands at home to Germany on Jurgen Klopp’s debut in the visiting dugout in the Nations League on Thursday.
Germany led through a first-half strike from Felix Nmecha but Gakpo fired home a superb volley in the closing moments from a Ruben van Bommel cross.
The late equaliser was just rewards for the hosts who were aggressive and dominated much of the match under coach Xavi Hernandez, who was taking charge of the Netherlands for the first time.
Injuries to Jamal Musiala, who was scratched from the starting XI with a thigh complaint after the warm-up, and Kai Havertz, who left the field in the first half, could further sour things for Germany with three games remaining this international break.
Klopp took the reins after Germany’s last-32 elimination by Paraguay at the summer’s World Cup, their third straight early exit at a tournament they have won four times.
Portugal 1-0 Wales
Joao Felix scored the only goal with a long-range shot as reigning Nations League champions Portugal opened their campaign with a 1-0 home win over Wales.
Portugal, who have won two of the four finals since the competition was launched in 2018, dominated possession and outshot Wales 19-4 in Lisbon but squandered a string of chances.
Their only goal came after 22 minutes when a low scuffed shot by Felix from the edge of the box took a slight deflection off Wales captain Ben Davies and skipped inside the far post beyond Danny Ward’s desperate dive.
As it has for some two decades, Portugal’s attack revolved around Cristiano Ronaldo. Every time the 41-year-old, who made his national debut in 2003 and has since scored a record 146 international goals, touched the ball near the goal, the roar of the home crowd rose several octaves.
Ronaldo found the side netting once and shinned an inviting volley high over from close range. After an hour he slid the ball into the Wales net but, to his evident disbelief, was ruled offside.
He was still shaking his head when he was replaced seven minutes later.
The crowd grew quieter and Portugal’s play drifted after Ronaldo’s departure.
Wales came agonisingly close to equalising, twice, from their one good chance.
First, Brennan Johnson chipped goalkeeper Diogo Costa and hit the face of the bar. With Costa stranded, Lewis Koumas and Dan James both went for the rebound. Koumas ended up shooting tamely straight at defender Ruben Dias on the line.
Uefa Nations League results on Thursday:
League A
Group 2
In Amsterdam
Netherlands 1 (Gakpo 90+2) Germany 1 (Nmecha 32)
In Belgrade
Serbia 1 (Zivkovic 4) Greece 2 (Tzolis 74, Douvikas 90+5)
Group 4
In Lisbon
Portugal 1 (Felix 22) Wales 0
In Oslo
Norway 3 (Bobb 14, Haaland 18, 74) Denmark 2 (Damsgaard 25, Hojlund 60)
League B
Group 3
In Linz, Austria
Austria 3 (Schmid 43-pen, Mwene 90, Kalajdzic 90+3) Israel 1 (Abu Frachi 55)
In Pristina
Kosovo 1 (Muriqi 83) Republic of Ireland 0
League D
Group 1
In Encamp, Andorra
Andorra 1 (Lopez 17) Malta 2 (Cardona 36, Teuma 81)
Group 2
In Vaduz
Liechtenstein 0 Lithuania 2 (Michelbrink 53, Dolznikov 66)
– © AFP 2026
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