Dutch humble Germany with Nations League win
Germany’s UEFA Nations League campaign took a humiliating blow after a 3-0 loss at old rival Netherlands on Saturday.
Germany remains without a win in the top-tier League A and has yet to score a goal.
In the second-tier League B, the Czech Republic got its first win in the new competition — beating host Slovakia 2-1 — and Ireland and Denmark drew 0-0.
In League D, Gibraltar won its first competitive game on a memorable night for the tiny territory.
Here’s a look at Saturday’s games.
NO GOALS FOR GERMANY
Germany has been under pressure to show some progress but it didn’t come at the Johan Cruyff Arena on Saturday night. The Germans failed to score for the third straight competitive game.
Captain Virgil van Dijk scored only his second international goal before Memphis Depay and Georginio Wijnaldum added two more as the Dutch ran riot late in the game.
The comprehensive loss left Germany at the bottom of Group 1 with a single point, days before it heads to Paris to take on group leader and World Cup champion France.
The result also heaped more pressure on Germany coach Joachim Loew, who opted to stay in the job after the 2014 world champion crashed out of the summer’s World Cup in Russia at the group stage.
“Why are we not scoring? That’s difficult to answer, we have clear chances,” Loew said.
Germany’s scoring woes were personified by Loew’s decision to play Mark Uth as a lone striker despite the 27-year-old’s failing to score a goal this season. He was substituted in the second half.
A corner from the right by Depay exposed German defensive frailties in the 30th. Ryan Babel rose between Jonas Hector and Mats Hummels to head against the underside of the bar and the ball bounced up invitingly for the unmarked Van Dijk to head in.
Depay doubled the lead in the 87th, calmly finishing after a quick break down the right by substitute Quincy Promes. The Olympique Lyon striker then hit the crossbar in extra time before Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum made it 3-0.
CZECHS WIN
Substitute striker Patrik Schick scored the winning goal for the visiting Czech Republic to beat Slovakia 2-1 in Trnava.
It was the first win for the Czechs in the competition after losing to Ukraine.
Ukraine leads Group 1 in second-tier League B, with three more points than the Czechs. Slovakia remains pointless.
Ireland drew with Denmark in Group 4 in the only other game in League B later Saturday. Denmark tops the group with four points, one more than Wales in second. Ireland has one point.
BULGARIA LEADS
Ole Selnaes scored the only goal for Norway to beat Slovenia 1-0 in Group 3 of League C for its second win and trail leader Bulgaria by three points.
Bulgaria rallied from a goal down to beat Cyprus 2-1.
Cyprus has three points while Slovenia is on zero.
GIBRALTAR ENDS LOSING STREAK
Gibraltar’s national team has recorded its first victory in a competitive match, a 1-0 win at Armenia, after losing its previous 22 competitive games.
Joseph Chipolina got the historic winner from the penalty spot in the Group 4 game in League D. Gibraltar players had to listen to the national anthem of Liechtenstein before the match, a mistake for which Armenia FA apologized.
Gibraltar hosts Liechtenstein on Tuesday.
Macedonia kept a perfect record in the same group with a 4-1 victory over Lichtenstein to lead with nine points. The other three teams are tied on three points.
In Group 1 of League D, Georgia made it three wins in three by beating Andorra 3-0 to dominate the standings with nine points.
Andorra, Latvia and Kazakhstan all have two points after Latvia and Kazakhstan drew 1-1.