Cody Gakpo's brilliant finish saw him spoil Jurgen Klopp's party as the former Liverpool manager took charge of Germany for the first time against the Netherlands
AMSTERDAM - Cody Gakpo of the Netherlands scores 1-1 during the UEFA Nations League match between the Netherlands and Germany at the Johan Cruijff ArenA on September 24, 2026 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. ANP OLAF KRAAK (Photo by ANP via Getty Images)
Cody Gakpo scored a brilliant equalizer to earn the Netherlands a draw against Germany(Image: Getty Images)
Cody Gakpo continued his superb start to the season as he made sure to spoil his former manager’s return at the start of the international break.
Jurgen Klopp had been just seconds away from securing a win in his first game as Germany manager, having returned to the dugout for the first time in over two years after ending his legendary spell at Liverpool.
But one of his former proteges denied him the perfect start, with Gakpo securing a 1-1 draw for the Netherlands in Amsterdam with a brilliant volleyed finish, ending a Nations League encounter full of drama and plenty of controversy in some style.
Klopp was all smiles as he was reunited with his former Liverpool stars, sharing warm embraces with both Virgil van Dijk and Gakpo ahead of kick-off - although he may have been left cursing the latter by the end of the game.
Gakpo notched up his seventh goal involvment so far this season as he latched onto Ruben van Bommel’s cross in the second minute of stoppage time and slammed the ball home past Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
It was probably the least the Netherlands deserved in Xavi’s first game since taking over from Ronald Koeman as manager, with the hosts having felt hard done by after a number of flash points during the game.
AMSTERDAM - (LR) Germany national coach Jürgen Klopp, Cody Gakpo of the Netherlands during the UEFA Nations League match between the Netherlands and Germany at the Johan Cruijff ArenA on 24 September 2026 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. MAURICE VAN STEEN / ANP (Photo by ANP via Getty Images)
Gakpo was warmly greeted by Klopp ahead of the game(Image: Getty Images)
Van Dijk in particular was not too happy after seeing what would have been his opening goal ruled out during the first half, with his header chalked off by VAR after a perceived foul by Brian Brobbey in the penalty area.
More controversy was to come during the first half though, with Germany taking the lead through Lukas Nmecha, but only after the Dutch players had implored their visitors to put the ball out of play after Brobbey went down injured with what looked to be a hamstring problem.
The referee looked as though he was about to bring play to a halt at one point as he put the whistle to his mouth, only to then wave play on, with Germany lifting the ball into the box before Nmecha pounced to turn the ball home.
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As the visitors celebrated, the Netherlands reacted angrily, with Denzel Dumfries confronting the goalscorer and his teammates before Van Dijk got involved, furiously waving his finger at Germany’s players and the referee as he argued that play should have been stopped before the goal was scored.
There was an edge to the game throughout, and Gakpo was perhaps lucky not to be sent off in the closing stages after treading on Yannik Engelhardt after a late challenge on the Germany midfielder.
Next up for Klopp’s Germany is a home game against Greece on September 27, when he will come up against another of his former Liverpool stars in Kostas Tsimikas, while the Netherlands head to Serbia on the same day.