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Greece marked their first-ever League A campaign with a memorable away victory over Serbia in Belgrade, while the Netherlands rescued a late draw against Germany.
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Cody Gakpo struck in stoppage time to deny Germany victory in Jürgen Klopp’s first competitive match as head coach.
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Portugal began their Nations League title defence with a narrow win over Wales, while Norway edged Denmark in a five-goal thriller.
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Kosovo, Lithuania and Malta also secured victories as the 2026–27 competition began with surprises across the groups.
September 25, (THEWILL) – UEFA Nations League opened with a dramatic night of international football as eight matches produced late goals, historic victories and surprise results across Europe.
The opening round featured managerial debuts, newly promoted teams making their mark and several closely contested encounters. While Greece secured an impressive victory in Belgrade, the Netherlands denied Germany a winning start after Cody Gakpo’s late equaliser in Amsterdam.
Netherlands 1–1 Germany: Gakpo denies Klopp victory
Germany appeared on course for victory in Jürgen Klopp’s first competitive match in charge until Cody Gakpo struck in stoppage time to rescue a point for the Netherlands.
Felix Nmecha had given Germany the lead in controversial circumstances, scoring while Dutch players were appealing for the match to be stopped following an injury to Kai Havertz.
The incident sparked frustration among the home side, who struggled to find an immediate response.
The Netherlands eventually found a way through in the 92nd minute when substitute Ruben van Bommel created the opportunity for Gakpo, who calmly finished to secure a 1–1 draw for Xavi Hernández’s team.
Serbia 1–2 Greece: Historic League A debut
Greece announced their arrival in the Nations League’s top division with a significant away victory over Serbia in Belgrade.
Playing in League A for the first time, Ivan Jovanović’s side overcame a Serbian team featuring the returning Dušan Tadić. The result provides Greece with an early boost in a challenging Group A2, which also includes Germany and the Netherlands.
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Portugal 1–0 Wales: Champions begin with victory
Defending champions Portugal opened their campaign with a narrow victory over Wales in Lisbon. João Félix scored the only goal of the match as Jorge Jesus began his tenure with three points.
Wales goalkeeper Danny Ward made several important saves, while Portugal missed opportunities to extend their advantage through Gonçalo Ramos and other attacking players.
Other Matchday 1 results
Norway defeated Denmark 3–2 in an entertaining Scandinavian contest, with Erling Haaland, Martin Ødegaard and Antonio Nusa helping the hosts secure victory.
Austria beat Israel 3–1, while Kosovo recorded a historic 1–0 victory over the Republic of Irelandto claim their first League A win.
Lithuania defeated Liechtenstein 2–0 away from home, and Malta edged Andorra 2–1 after surviving a late penalty scare.
With eight matches completed, the Nations League has already delivered an unpredictable opening round.
Attention now turns to the remaining fixtures, including Italy versus Belgium, Türkiye against France and England’s meeting with Spain.
Olumide Atiba is a sports journalist with THEWILL, known for his keen news sense and compelling storytelling. He has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, well-structured reports that resonate with readers, with a strong focus on football coverage
