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Bergwijn earns Netherlands friendly draw with Germany

Christina Pahnke - sampics / Corbis Sport / Getty

Amsterdam, March 29, 2022 (AFP) - Tottenham forward Steven Bergwijn came off the bench to equalise for the Netherlands in a 1-1 friendly draw against Germany in Amsterdam on Tuesday.

After Thomas Mueller had put the Germans ahead just before the break, Bergwijn crashed in the equaliser as the Dutch dominated the second half.

Eight months before the World Cup kicks off in Qatar, both European heavyweights took the chance to look at their playing options.

"Heading into Qatar, we have to use every international match and that was valuable," said Germany captain Manuel Neuer.

"We were decent for long stretches and the bottom line is that the team is on a very good path."

Germany head coach Hansi Flick was denied a ninth straight victory since taking charge last September.

"Huge compliments to my team, we were courageous, refreshing, self-confident," said Flick.

"We can be satisfied with the draw, although we would have preferred to win."

The Germans took a deserved lead after superb work by teenager Jamal Musiala in the build up to Mueller's goal.

The Bayern Munich starlet sprinted onto a ball in the area and passed across to Kai Havertz, who was heavily marked by Tyrell Malacia.

The ball was cleared only as far as Mueller, who curled in his shot from the edge of the area and punched the air after his 43rd goal for Germany.

It was 1-0 to Germany at the break, but the Dutch responded in the second half and drew level when Spurs forward Bergwijn came off the bench.

When Frenkie De Jong played a diagonal ball to the baseline, Denzel Dumfries headed back for Bergwijn to fire home.

The Dutch were then awarded a penalty midway through the second half when Thilo Kehrer looked to have fouled Memphis Depay.

However, the referee reversed the decision after watching the replay.

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