Netherlands 0-0 Germany: Old rivals disappoint in dour draw

Posted Thursday, November 15, 2012 by Goal.com

Netherlands have recorded a scoreless draw against Germany in Wednesday evening's international friendly at the Amsterdam ArenA.

Germany were the first team to threaten when Marco Reus escaped the attention of Ricardo van Rhijn after a good pass from Mats Hummels, but Kenneth Vermeer was alert and rushed off his line to collect the ball before the Borussia Dortmund star could get to it.

The guests continued to be the better side of the two and came close to opening the scoring in the 21st minute. Benedikt Howedes found Mario Gotze with a low cross from the right, but the forward's first attempt was kept out by Vermeer, while the rebound was blocked by John Heitinga.

Reus then opted to try his luck after Heitinga failed to clear a cross from the left, but his powerful shot from a narrow angle only hit the sidenetting.

Ilkay Gundogan got the biggest chance of the first half in the closing seconds of the opening 45 minutes and the midfielder indeed manage to beat Vermeer. However, Heitinga bailed out his goalkeeper and cleared the ball off the line.

Oranje, meanwhile, struggled to created chances at the ArenA, and only Arjen Robben came close to opening the scoring for the hosts. The Bayern man was unable to get his shot on target, though, after rounding Manuel Neuer, and the chance went begging.

The second half continued in very much the same vein as the first half, with the majority of the game taking place in midfield.

Holland were the first to get a shot on target after the interval when Ibrahim Afellay tried his luck from long range, but his weak attempt was an easy prey for Neuer.

The Bayern goalkeeper was again called into action in the 76th minute after a good combination between Daryl Janmaat and Dirk Kuyt. The former fired in a well-placed shot at the near post, but Neuer pulled off a superb save to tip the ball wide.

Eljero Elia then threatened with a powerful attempt after cutting in from the left, but his right-footed shot went high and wide.

Germany almost netted a winner well into stoppage time after Reus collected the ball on the edge of the area, but the former Monchengladbach star blasted his shot over the bar.

Netherlands' next match is the international friendly against Italy on February 6, 2013, while Germany lock horns with France the same day.