Germany score late to clip Netherlands 2-1

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP):

Germany substitute Niclas Fullkrug scored late to give the European Championship host a morale-boosting 2-1 win over the Netherlands in their friendly yesterday.

The excellent Dutch goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen tried fishing Fullkrug's effort off the line in the 85th minute, but a check confirmed the ball had crossed the line, giving Germany their second win from two games after their 2-0 victory over France on Saturday.

It ended a Dutch run of four straight wins and rewarded Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann for a team shakeup that included six new faces and Toni Kroos' return from international retirement.

The Real Madrid star's corner provided the platform for Fullkrug to score the winner as Germany recovered from conceding an early goal.

A poor pass from Maximilian Mittelstadt for Jonathan Tah allowed Memphis Depay to cross for Joey Veerman, who scored with a volley in the fourth minute.

It provided Nagelsmann with the conditions he had asked for before the game - a character test in the face of adversity for his players - who responded with ball possession before Mittelstadt atoned for his earlier mistake with the equalizer in the 11th.

Jamal Musiala crossed the ball after a Kroos corner and Mittelstadt struck it perfectly outside the penalty area to send it in off the underside of the crossbar.

Peter Schilling's 1980s hit "Major Tom" rang around the stadium for the first time. Thousands of German fans had signed a petition to make it the official German goal-jingle for Euro 2024.

The team in pink - also a first for Germany - dominated possession for the rest of the half, though Ilkay Gundogan had to clear the ball ahead of Donyell Malen after a Dutch free kick that could have yielded the visitors' second goal.

Tijjani Reijnders and Depay had the best Dutch chances before Verbruggen denied Mittelstadt and then Musiala before he was finally beaten.

In another friendly in London, Jude Bellingham scored in the fifth minute of stoppage time to salvage a 2-2 draw for England against Belgium.

Two first-half goals from Youri Tielemans had Belgium in control at Wembley Stadium, but Real Madrid midfielder Bellingham continued his outstanding form to fire an equaliser from close range.

Tielemans had struck in the 11th and 36th minutes, while Ivan Toney scored from the penalty spot in the 17th on his first start for his country.