UEFA Nations League: Virgil Van Dijk Scores Late Equaliser Against Germany As Netherlands Book Place In Semi-Finals (Photos & Video)

Alan Duffy

19th, November 2018

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A last-gasp equaliser from Virgil van Dijk gave the Netherlands a dramatic draw away to Germany on Monday night, a result which sees them qualify for the semi-finals of the UEFA Nations League at the expense of World Champions France.

Germany, who are still licking their wounds after their collective World Cup flop, started brightly and found themselves 2-0 up at the break.

Striker Timo Werner opened the scoring on nine minutes with a superb strike from outside the box.

Just 10 minutes later, Manchester City winger Leroy Sane doubled the hosts’ advantage.

With the Germans leading, it was France who topped Group A1 and therefore were heading for the semi-finals in the summer.

However, the Netherlands produced a dramatic turnaround late in the second half, with winger Quincy Promes scoring from the edge of the box on 85 minutes.

Then, at the death, Liverpool captain Van Dijk volleyed home from a Tonny Vilhena centre to peg back the Netherlands’ old rivals.

The game would end all-square a result which fires the Dutch into the last four of the competition along with England, Portugal and Switzerland (it’s surely England’s to lose now?).

As for Jogi Low’s German side, they have now gone five games without a win – their longest winless run since 1979.

Germany, who were already relegated to the second tier of the Nations League after losing against France last month, will also drop down into the second seeds for Euro 2020 qualifying if Poland beat Portugal on Tuesday night.

It’s not been a vintage year for them, let’s be honest.