13/11/2026

SPORTS FRIDAY | NOV 13, 2026

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Netherlands, Greece brace for crucial Nations League clash

THE NETHERLANDS and Greece face a poten tially decisive Nations League showdown tomor row (3.45am), with both sides knowing victory could secure their passage to the quarterfinals. Level on eight points after four matches in League A, Group A2, the two teams meet at the Johan Cruyff Arena with Germany lurking three points behind in third place. The Netherlands, coached by former Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez, have the advantage of home support but will be wary of a Greek side that has emerged as one of the com petition’s surprise packages. A victory would guarantee the Dutch a place in the last eight, while Greece will also be deter mined to take a significant step towards qualifi cation and strengthen their position at the top of the group.

Jovanovic believes his team have earned the opportunity to aim higher than initially expected, but insists they must maintain their concentration during the final two group matches. “We have these last two games left. I think we are in a very good position in the standings, but it is of great importance that we respond to the last two games,” he said. “It is something that we created during the first games. An opportunity to potentially have higher goals than we expected at the beginning of the process.” Greece will, however, be without suspended midfielder Christos Zafeiris and right back Manolis Saliakas, while their defensive organisa tion will be tested by the Netherlands’ attacking quality. – Agencies

the good players,” he said. However, the Netherlands will be without captain Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Brian Brobbey, who have withdrawn from the squad through injury. Greece, meanwhile, arrive in Amsterdam unbeaten and full of confidence after recording victories over Serbia and Germany before hold ing the Dutch to an entertaining 2-2 draw in Thessaloniki last month. Ivan Jovanovic’s men have demonstrated impressive organisation and resilience, particu larly in their ability to frustrate stronger oppo nents while remaining dangerous on the counter-attack. Their victory over Germany was especially significant, underlining their growing confidence and ability to compete against Europe’s established football powers.

Xavi will be particularly encouraged by the return of influential midfielder Frenkie de Jong, who missed the first four Nations League matches through injury but has been recalled for the crucial double-header against Greece and Germany. The Barcelona playmaker is expected to bring greater creativity and composure to the Dutch midfield, with Xavi keen to make full use of his experience and versatility. “He knows our philosophy, our ideas and he must be important on the pitch with us. I want to see his personality, he’s one of the captains of the team, he has experience,” Xavi said. The Dutch coach also believes De Jong can operate alongside Joey Veerman, who impressed during the previous international window. “All the players can play together, especially

Germany seek vital win Klopp needs victory against Serbia to keep quarterfinal hopes alive

SIDENETTING

McTominay back to revive Scotland

SCOTLAND have little room for error when they host North Macedonia in the Nations League tomorrow (3.45am) as they seek to revive their promotion hopes. Scotland sit third in League B, Group 1 with four points from four matches, three behind Slovenia and eight adrift of lead ers Switzerland. Coach Sebastien Pocognoli will be hoping the return of midfielder Scott McTominay provides the spark needed to get his side back on track. McTominay missed the pre vious international window after undergoing a heart procedure but is now available for selection. North Macedonia, meanwhile, have endured a miserable cam paign, losing all four matches and scoring just once. Scotland will draw confidence from their 2-1 victory in the reverse fixture last month, when Kieron Bowie and John McGinn scored. However, the hosts cannot afford another slip-up with only two matches remaining if they are to keep their promotion ambitions alive. Switzerland eye perfect run SWITZERLAND will look to main tain their perfect Nations League record when they travel to face Slovenia tomorrow (3.45am), knowing another victory would bring them closer to promotion to League A. Switzerland lead League B, Group 1 with 12 points from four matches, five ahead of second-placed Slovenia. Murat Yakin’s side have scored 11 goals and conceded just once, under lining their dominance in the group. Slovenia, coached by Bostjan Cesar, will be eager to close the gap after collecting seven points, although their task has been complicated by the absence of injured striker Benjamin Sesko. Switzerland will also be without captain Granit Xhaka, who has withdrawn from the squad with a calf injury. The visitors won 2-1 when the teams met in October and will be confi dent of repeating that result. However, Slovenia need points to strengthen their grip on second place and are unlikely to make things easy for the group leaders.

G ERMANY face a potentially decisive test of their Nations League ambitions when they take on Serbia in Belgrade tomorrow (3.45am Malaysian time), knowing that anything less than a victory could leave their quarterfinal hopes hanging by a thread. Jurgen Klopp’s men head into

Florian Wirtz, who scored in Germany’s previous meeting with Serbia, will also be central to their attacking plans, with Joshua Kimmich expected to provide leadership and control in midfield. Serbia, meanwhile, have little left to play for in terms of qualification after losing all four of their group matches, but will be desperate to avoid another disappointing result in front of their home support. Veljko Paunovi ’s side have suffered defeats against Greece, the Netherlands and Germany, leav ing them bottom of the group without a point. Another loss would further compound their difficult campaign and confirm their relegation from League A. Their task has been made more complicated by the suspension of midfielders Sasa Lukic and Nemanja Maksimovic, while injuries have also weak ened their options. Nevertheless, Serbia possess considerable experi ence through the likes of Aleksandar Mitrovic, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Dusan Tadic, and will be hop ing their attacking quality can trouble a German defence that has not always looked convincing. Germany will also need to be wary of the pressure associated with playing in Belgrade, although tomor row’s match will be subject to Uefa’s stadium sanc tion following previous incidents involving Serbian supporters. Children under 15, accompanied by teachers or coaches, are expected to be permitted to attend. With Germany chasing qualification and Serbia fighting to salvage some pride from their campaign, the encounter promises to be a significant test of Klopp’s developing side ahead of Monday’s show down with the Dutch. – Agencies

to negotiate a potentially decisive final group match against the Netherlands in Berlin on Tuesday. Germany have endured an inconsistent start under Klopp, opening their campaign with a 1-1 draw against the Netherlands before suffering a sur prise 1-0 defeat to Greece. They subsequently recovered with a 2-0 vic tory over Serbia in Munich but were held to a goalless draw by Greece in their most recent out ing. Klopp will be looking for greater attacking efficiency from his side, particularly against opponents who are likely to adopt a cautious approach and look to exploit opportunities on the counter-attack. The German coach has recalled striker Niclas Fullkrug, whose impressive form for Werder Bremen has earned him a return to the national squad after more than a year away.

the Group A2 encounter third in the standings with five points from four matches, three behind joint leaders the Netherlands and Greece, with only two rounds remaining. A victory at the Rajko Mitic Stadium would keep Germany firmly in conten tion for a place in the last eight, although they will a l s o have

The 33-year-old has scored nine Bundesliga goals in eight appearances this season and provides Germany with an experienced focal point in attack. Explaining his squad selec

tion, Klopp said: “I’m really looking forward to our next two games. We’ve got a good mix of youth and experience in the squad.” He added: “The more quality you have at your dis posal, the harder those decisions become, and that’s a good problem to have.”

Germany head coach Jurgen Klopp during a training session before tomorrow’s Nations League match against Serbia. – REUTERSPIC

Fuellkrug relishes home comforts on return to Germany squad AFTER ill-fated stints at West Ham and AC Milan, striker Niclas Fuellkrug’s rich vein of form since his Werder Bremen return has been capped with a Germany recall. Fuellkrug became the latest striker to endure an unhappy time at West Ham, a club which has become a graveyard for promising European for wards.

the modern image-conscious foot baller. “I couldn’t stay fit,” Fuellkrug said of his struggles abroad, adding: “The key is staying fit and having a team around me that looks for me – and passes me the ball when the moment is right. “That’s the key – I think I’ve been able to prove that now.” Fuellkrug is in blistering form but his call-up highlights how bare the cupboard now is in a country once known for producing top-class for wards. The four-time world champions have produced strikers like Gerd Muller, Fritz Walter, Ulf Kirsten, Rudi Voller and Jurgen Klinsmann. But Germany have not had a top class number nine since 2014 World Cup-winner Miroslav Klose. – AFP

all competitions, having managed only four in two seasons after leaving Germany for West Ham. Klopp admitted “sometimes form trumps everything else”. “He made his case with a wide vari ety of goals… and almost all of them were spectacular,” said Klopp. Fuellkrug also has an excellent record for Germany with 14 goals in just 24 appearances, many of which came as a substitute. Fuellkrug has a simple explanation for his form since returning to Bremen on a season-long loan from now Championship side West Ham. “It’s my footballing home,” Fuellkrug said of the club he first joined aged 14. “Everyone sleeps better in their own bed. I just feel completely at ease here.”

He scored just three times in an injury-hit 18 months in London. But while he may not have gotten among the goals, his endeared himself to some of the fanbase with his typically German honesty. After conceding late to draw 1-1 at home to Southampton in April 2025, Fuellkrug spoke his mind, using a swear word to describe the Hammers’ performance, with the West Ham fans then using his quote to create a chant referencing him. Fuellkrug’s honesty has also won him support among many in Germany, where the gap-toothed journeyman is seen as an antidote to

Germany coach Jurgen Klopp brought Fuellkrug back into the fold for Nations League fixtures against Serbia tomorrow and the Netherlands next week. Fuellkrug has not played an inter national game since a Nations League third-place playoff loss to France in June 2025. While Klopp, who has a contract until after the 2030 World Cup, has stated his focus is on youth and build ing for the future, Fuellkrug made himself impossible to ignore. Currently the Bundesliga’s top scorer ahead of Harry Kane, the 33 year-old has 12 goals in 11 matches in