Xavi wins first Netherlands game as Klopp falls at home

Xavi has registered his first win as Netherlands coach, while Jürgen Klopp’s early Germany tenure has suffered another setback. The contrasting outcomes came in the second round of Nations League matches, with the Dutch winning away and Germany losing on home soil.

The Netherlands defeated Serbia 2-1 after Mexx converted a penalty in the 30th minute and scored again in the 69th. Luka Jovic restored parity for Serbia shortly after the interval, but the hosts could not prevent the Netherlands from taking all three points. The result gives Xavi a first victory since taking charge of the Dutch national side.

Klopp’s Germany were beaten 1-0 by Greece in his second match as coach. Konstantinos Kourbelis settled the game with the only goal in the 74th minute, extending the pressure around a team still adapting to its new manager. After the defeat, Germany’s immediate return to winning form remains unresolved, while Greece leave with a significant away result.

The two results mark different starts to the latest coaching changes. Xavi can point to a first competitive success with the Netherlands, despite Serbia’s equaliser, whereas Klopp has yet to secure a positive result in his second outing with Germany. The Nations League campaign has therefore opened with progress for one new coach and another warning for the other.