Dutch join party with late double
HOLLAND scored twice in the last five minutes to snatch a dramatic draw in Gelsenkirchen last night and qualify for next summer’s Nations League finals at the expense of world champions France. Having trailed 2-0 since the 19th minute, winger Quincy Promes pulled one back from the edge of the penalty area, before a sensational stoppage-time volley from Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk earned Holland the point they needed to top Group A1 on goal difference. ‘This is reward for our hard work,’ said centre back Van Dijk. ‘It was good to get the equaliser and qualify. ‘After an ordinary first half we wanted to come out stronger after the break. We showed character.’ Victory for already-relegated Germany would have meant France reached the last four and the home side looked well set when Timo Werner’s superb finish after nine minutes was followed by a deflected strike from Manchester City forward Leroy Sane to make it 2-0 soon after. But Ronald Koeman’s side launched a dramatic late fightback to become the last nation to qualify for the finals, joining England, Portugal and Switzerland. Germany finished the Nations League without a win to continue their World Cup hangover and under-pressure manager Joachim Low said: ‘I am a bit disappointed by the result but overall I saw more positives than negatives. ‘We played a very good first half and should have scored a third in the second half to finish the game. But this kind of thing seems to be the story of our entire year.’