The Netherlands players rated: four standout performers get a 7; Timber and Van Dijk disappoint

The Netherlands opened their Nations League campaign with a 1-1 draw against Germany. The Dutch trailed for most of the night, but Cody Gakpo grabbed a deserved equaliser deep into stoppage time. Voetbalzone rates the starters and substitutes who played at least 45 minutes.

Denzel Dumfries was one of the Netherlands' better performers with a 7. The right-back made his mark going forward after the break, forced Marc-André ter Stegen into a save and then fired in a vicious cross from which Mexx Meerdink nearly scored.

Tijjani Reijnders also got a 7. His set-pieces caused problems several times and Virgil van Dijk headed in from one of his corners early on, only for the goal to be ruled out because of a foul by Brian Brobbey.

Crysencio Summerville earned a 7 too and posed a regular threat down the left. He also had a good chance to put the Netherlands ahead before the break, but his header failed to find the net.

UEFA Nations League A

Serbia

SER

27 Sept 202612:00

Netherlands

NED

UEFA Nations League A

Germany

GER

27 Sept 202614:45

Greece

GRE

Off the bench, Mexx Meerdink made an instant impact on his international debut and picked up a 7. The striker replaced the injured Brobbey, teed up Dumfries with a lovely backheel and then hit the post via Ter Stegen.

Quinten Timber could do no better than a 5.5. The midfielder gave the ball away too often, went into the book early after a foul on Kai Havertz and made way for Joey Veerman after 57 minutes.

Captain Virgil van Dijk also had to settle for a below-par 5.5. He thought he had given the Netherlands the lead with a header, only to see it ruled out, and later picked up a yellow card.

Ryan Gravenberch came in slightly above the middle with a 6.5. Bart Verbruggen, Jan Paul van Hecke, Micky van de Ven, Brian Brobbey and Gakpo all got a 6, with the latter ultimately decisive thanks to his late equaliser.

Player ratings Netherlands national team