Jürgen Klopp makes Germany debut against Xavi’s Netherlands

Jürgen Klopp’s first game in charge of Germany will come against Xavi Hernández’s Netherlands on Thursday, September 24, as the Nations League opens with a meeting of two new national-team coaches.

Klopp was appointed on July 24, while Xavi is beginning his own Netherlands tenure. UEFA identifies the fixture as the first match for both managers, giving a familiar rivalry a different set of decisions in the dugouts.

Germany are unbeaten in the countries’ previous four meetings, with two wins and two draws. Serbia and Greece complete Group A2, with the four teams facing one another home and away during the league phase.

The new coaches have little room to ease into the competition because four matchdays fall between September 24 and October 6. The final two rounds are scheduled for November, leaving an early run of results capable of shaping the group.