Germany vs. Netherlands preview: Team news and predicted lineups
Germany head into Monday’s Nations League meeting with the Netherlands in Berlin knowing victory will secure a place in the March 2027 quarter-finals. A draw would leave their fate in Greece’s hands.
2026/27 UEFA Nations League · Group A2
Jürgen Klopp’s side arrive after a 3-1 away win over bottom-placed Serbia, who have yet to collect a point. Germany remain third with eight points, level with second-placed Greece, while the Netherlands lead the group on 11 after thrashing Greece 7-0 on Friday.
A German victory would guarantee qualification, but the winning margin and Greece’s result against Serbia in the simultaneous fixture will determine whether Klopp’s team finish first or second.
Germany’s route to the quarter-finals
- Win
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Germany qualify. They will top the group if Greece fail to beat Serbia, or if they beat the Netherlands by at least five goals, regardless of Greece’s result.
A win by four goals or fewer, combined with a Greece victory, would leave Germany as runners-up.
- Draw
- Germany finish second and advance only if Greece lose to Serbia. If Greece take at least a point, Germany finish third and miss the knockout stages.
- Lose
- Germany finish third, whatever happens in the other match, with a possible League A/B relegation play-off to follow.
Defeat could therefore carry consequences beyond missing the quarter-finals. If Norway beat Denmark the following day, Germany would be among the two lowest-ranked third-placed teams across League A’s four groups.
That would send Die Nationalmannschaft into a two-legged relegation play-off against one of the League B group runners-up in March 2027.
Team news and predicted changes
Klopp could make a couple of changes in defence, while the Netherlands are expected to replace Frenkie de Jong following an injury.
Germany: Schlotterbeck could return
Klopp surprisingly left Nico Schlotterbeck out of the starting XI against Serbia, choosing Malick Thiaw instead. The Germany coach explained that Thiaw’s selection would help his side deal with Serbia’s long balls.
The Netherlands are expected to favour a more technical, possession-based approach with the ball on the ground, making Schlotterbeck a likely candidate to return to the starting line-up.
On the left of defence, the more technically gifted Nathaniel Brown could also come in, potentially replacing Maximilian Mittelstädt.
Netherlands: De Jong set to miss out
Frenkie de Jong is set to miss the match after picking up a knock. Teun Koopmeiners is likely to step in alongside Borussia Dortmund’s Joey Veerman in central midfield.
Otherwise, head coach Xavi Hernández has little reason to alter his starting XI after the emphatic 7-0 victory over Greece.
