If the storied rivalry between the Netherlands and Germany needed any more of a lofty billing, Thursday’s Nations League clash between these great European sporting institutions also serves as the setting for the introduction of Xavi Hernández and Jürgen Klopp as international managers.
Both teams were dumped out of the first World Cup knockout round on penalties in underwhelming circumstances. While there is no shame in losing to Morocco, Ronald Koeman was pilloried for the seemingly defensive approach he took (which was only seconds away from working until Issa Diop’s unlikely stoppage-time equalizer).
