Hoffenheim defender Nico Schulz scored a 90th-minute winner as Germany recorded a 3-2 victory over Netherlands in Sunday night's hugely entertaining Euro 2020 qualification match.
First-half efforts from Leroy Sane and Serge Gnabry had seen Germany lead by two goals at the interval, but Matthijs de Ligt halved the deficit in the 48th minute before Memphis Depay continued his fine form in a Netherlands shirt by levelling the scores just past the hour.
There was to be a late sting in the tail, though, with Schulz securing all the points for Germany in their Group C opener.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of the Euro 2020 qualifier between Netherlands and Germany from Amsterdam. Netherlands opened their Group C campaign with a 4-0 win over Belarus on Thursday, while Germany will enter this match off the back of a 1-1 draw with Serbia in a friendly last week. Stay tuned for live minute-by-minute updates!
TEAMS!
NED: Cillessen; Dumfries, De Ligt, Van Dijk, Blind; De Jong, Wijnaldum, De Roon; Babel, Memphis, Promes
GER: Neuer; Sule, Ginter, Rudiger; Kehrer, Kimmich, Kroos, Schulz; Sane, Goretzka, Gnabry
Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman has made one change to the team that started the 4-0 win over Belarus, with Quincy Promes replacing Steven Bergwijn in a forward position. Memphis Depay scored twice and set up the other two in the 4-0 win over Belarus and leads the attack once again.
As for Germany, only Manuel Neuer, Niklas Sule, Joshua Kimmich and Leroy Sane keep their spots from the team that started against Serbia. Leon Goretzka, Antonio Rudiger and Toni Kroos are amongst those to make the XI, while Serge Gnabry is preferred to Timo Werner in the final third of the field. It could well be a 3-4-3 or a 3-5-2; let's wait and see!
Here we go then; the national anthems have been sung and the flags have been exchanged. The scene is set and the supporters are in wonderful voice. Let's hope for an entertaining game!
KICKOFF: Germany kick things off in Amsterdam...
... Netherlands would certainly send out a strong message if they managed to collect all three points tonight. The early possession has been with Germany, though.
CHANCE! Big chance for Germany to take the lead in the early stages as bright work from Sane leads to Gnabry having a shooting chance, but the attacker's effort is saved by Cillessen!
Germany have been on the front foot from the very first whistle here. A deep cross from Kehrer comes into Schluz, but the number 14 cannot reach the ball. One-way traffic.
Kehrer and Schulz are the two wing-backs for Germany tonight and both have impressed in the early stages. Gnabry again finds space inside the Netherlands box, but De Ligt is across to make the challenge. Netherlands are still struggling to get out of their own half here.
Finally a bit of pressure from the home side, but Babel's cross from a wide position is headed clear by Sule. De Roon then fouls Kroos and Germany can settle down with a free kick.
SHOT! Babel has a shot blocked behind for a corner after a deflected cross from Dumfries had fallen at the feet of the Fulham attacker. Memphis's corner, though is easily cleared by Kimmich.
Netherlands have a free kick in a dangerous area as Kimmich fells Memphis...
SHOT! ... Memphis's strike is well over the crossbar.
Kimmich goes down inside the Netherlands box and wants a penalty, but the challenge from De Jong was excellent. Barcelona are going to be getting a real gem of a player this summer.
GOAL! NETHERLANDS 0-1 GERMANY (SANE)
What a wonderful goal that is. Schulz breaks down the left for Germany before feeding a low cross into Sane, who works the ball onto his left foot before picking out the far corner of the net!
Netherlands looks to respond as Memphis delivers a free kick from deep, but Germany manage to catch a couple of players offside. There are surely more goals in this match.
It must be said that the first 20 minutes of this match have absolutely flown past; Germany started well before Netherlands had their own little period, but the visitors are now on the front foot once again. Sane looks very, very likely for Low's team, which is bad news for the hosts.
Memphis delivers a low cross into the Germany box, but Sule is once again on hand to make the clearance. The pace of the match has dropped a touch with both teams losing the ball.
SAVE! Super save from Neuer to keep out a close-range effort from Babel! The Fulham attacker had been released inside the Germany box, but Neuer manages to push the ball over the crossbar. Germany do not look all that secure in a defensive position down their right side.
All Netherlands at the moment as Germany sit deep to defend their own penalty box.
SAVE! Another save from Neuer to keep out a close-range volley from Babel!
Van Dijk does well to challenge Sane, who was through on goal once again.
SAVE! Comfortable save for Neuer this time to keep out Dumfires's low strike.
Possession football from Germany at the moment as they look to take the sting out of the match. Netherlands are having their moments in the final third, but need to be a bit more careful.
GOAL! NETHERLANDS 0-2 GERMANY (GNABRY)
Oh my word; absolutely incredible. Gnabry picks up the ball on the left before cutting inside and bending the ball into the far corner of the net! Van Dijk looked to be quite comfortable, but one movement from Gnabry created some space and his effort was truly incredible!
German football in crisis? Not based on this performance. They've been very good here.
We have seen very little from the likes of Wijnaldum in this first period, while Promes has also failed to contribute. Sane, on the other hand, is absolutely full of it down the other end.
YELLOW CARD! Blind (Netherlands) is booked for dissent.
SAVE! Germany have played their way out of the press exceptionally well in this first period. There seems to be a lot of space between the Netherlands back four and their midfield three. Kehrer has just headed towards goal, but Cillessen was on hand to make a decent save.
SAVE! Cillessen has to get down to keep out a low strike from Sane.
Van Dijk and De Ligt just cannot deal with Sane here as the Manchester City attacker continues to drop into the hole before spinning behind. Germany's gameplan has been excellent.
Wijnaldum goes to ground inside the Germany box under pressure from Rudiger, but the referee is not interested. It would have been a very harsh decision, that's for sure.
HALF TIME: NETHERLANDS 0-2 GERMANY
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Germany leading Netherlands 2-0 courtesy of goals from Sane and Gnabry. Both strikes were excellent and there is no question that Germany deserve their lead despite the fact that Netherlands have had their moments. Are Germany a football nation in crisis? Not based on the first 45 minutes here!
STATISTICS! Germany had eight shots in the first period, five of which were on target. Netherlands, meanwhile, hit the target with three of their six first-half attempts. Straight down the middle in terms of possession here, but Germany have made 252 passes to the home side's 248.
BENCH WATCH! Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman has a number of talented attackers on his bench tonight, with the likes of Bergwijn, Luuk de Jong, Vilhena and Berghuis all capable of making a difference. Germany, meanwhile, have options in the shape of Brandt, Havertz, Reus and Werner.
KICKOFF: Netherlands resume the action on home soil...
... NETHERLANDS SUB! Bergwijn replaces Babel for the home side.
It would be fair to say that Netherlands need the next goal if they are to stand a chance of picking up anything from this match; a third for Germany really would be curtains in Amsterdam.
Not too much to report in the early stages of the second period, but there has been more intent from the home side, who certainly have the players to turn this game around.
GOAL! GOAL! NETHERLANDS 1-2 GERMANY (DE LIGT)
Game on! Netherlands are very much back in this football match as De Ligt flicks a Memphis cross into the back of the Germany net. Just what the home side needed here.
All Netherlands at the moment as they continue to work the ball into dangerous positions. Germany, on the other hand, have not really started since the second half begun here.
Germany manage to ease some of the pressure as Sane wins a free kick in a wide area, but it is played back as the away side decide to keep the ball for a little while, which is not a bad idea.
Netherlands are quicker all across the park at the moment as the team in orange continue to jump on every loose ball. Germany just need to be careful that they do not lose control here.
Possession football from Netherlands at the moment as they pass and probe in Germany's half of the field. Not too much in the way of opportunities in the last few minutes, though.
Little over 30 minutes of the second period remaining and Germany have not really offered anything since the restart. Sane has found it tough to get into the game since the break.
Germany are very deep at the moment as they sit in and look to defend. Just a reminder that this is Germany's first Euro 2020 qualifier, but Netherlands beat Belarus last week.
Neuer makes a wonderful save to keep out a close-range volley from Wijnaldum, but the offside flag had been raised and it would not have counted. Some stop either way!
GOAL! NETHERLANDS 2-2 GERMANY (MEMPHIS)
Now then! All square! Netherlands level the scores in the 63rd minute as Memphis creates some space inside the Germany box before picking out the bottom corner with a fine strike!
SHOT! Promes strikes wide of the Germany post as the home side search for a third!
Germany are preparing to make a change as Gundogan receives his instructions.
GERMANY SUB! Gundogan replaces Goretzka for the away side.
Little under 20 minutes of the second period remaining and it is so delicately poised here.
You do get the feeling that there is a winner in this match, but both teams would be fairly happy with a point. More so Netherlands, though, having been 2-0 down at the interval.
The pace of the match has just dropped a tough in the last few minutes.
CLOSE! Smart goalkeeping from Neuer to come out and deny Wijnaldum, who had threatened to meet a through pass from De Jong. Still a solid 10 minutes of football to be played here.
Sane is still the player making things happen for Germany and the away side have a free kick in a very dangerous position as Kroos is brought to the ground by the challenging De Jong...
... Kroos sees his free kick drop harmlessly wide of the post.
SAVE! Cillessen has to keep out a low strike from Gnabry!
Memphis delivers a dangerous cross towards the far post, but Rudiger is on hand to make the clearance. You have to think that any goal at this stage of the match would be the winner.
GERMANY SUB! Reus replaces Gnabry for the away side.
GOAL! NETHERLANDS 2-3 GERMANY (SCHULZ)
Oh my word! Germany surely win it at the death as Reus picks out Schulz inside the Netherlands box and the defender finishes expertly into the bottom corner!
NETHERLANDS SUB! Luuk de Jong replaces De Roon for the home side.
FULL TIME: NETHERLANDS 2-3 GERMANY
What a finish in Amsterdam! Germany secure all three points as Schulz nets a 90th-minute winner. Terrific game of football! Thanks for joining Sports Mole for our live coverage once again. Until next time!
