Netherlands' Uefa Nations League defeat tough to take for Germany, says Timo Werner

Virgil van Dijk's close-range header after Ryan Babel's effort had come back off crossbar paves way for record-breaking 3-0 Dutch win

epa07091320 Germany's Timo Werner (C) in action during the UEFA Nations League, league A, group 1, soccer match between the Netherlands and Germany at Johan Cruijff ArenA in Amsterdam, Germany, 13 October 2018.  EPA/SASCHA STEINBACH DFB regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video.
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Germany striker Timo Werner has conceded it was a "punch in the stomach" to allow the Netherlands to score after the visitors had dominated the Uefa Nations League match in Amsterdam.

Despite enjoying the better of the opening half-hour, Virgil van Dijk's close-range header after Ryan Babel's effort had come back off the crossbar paved the way for a record-breaking 3-0 Dutch win.

Late second-half goals from Memphis Depay and Van Dijk's Liverpool teammate Georginio Wijnaldum registered the Netherlands' biggest win over their neighbours and a first in a competitive match since 1992.

It also meant Germany have gone three competitive matches without scoring for the first time in their history and are winless after two Nations League matches.

"We played very well at the beginning, created many chances, let them run without the ball and did everything we wanted to," Werner said.

"Then there is this corner which hits the bar and is then turned in. That was a punch in our stomach.

"We missed out on scoring when we had the chances to do so. That's our biggest shortcoming."

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Manager Joachim Low, who surpassed Sepp Herberger to set a new record in his 168th game in charge of the national team, admits confidence is a problem after six defeats in 10 matches.

"It's not only about converting the chances. We played OK until we conceded and did not use our chances," he said.

"After conceding, you could see that recent results have led to a lack of confidence.

"Why are we not scoring? That's difficult to answer, we have clear chances.

"Had we lost 1-0, it would have been acceptable but breaking apart like this in the last 10 minutes is not good."

Lack of confidence is not an issue for Holland, according to manager Ronald Koeman

"This gives us a lot of confidence for the future. We can be really proud, there has been incredible fight and we have shown that we can play great football," he told Dutch broadcaster NOS.

"I really see a great future for Dutch football. Everyone needed this, not only the national coach and the players, but the whole of Holland."