Nations League Kicks Off With Goalless Halves in Key European Matches

The 2026/27 UEFA Nations League season commenced with several high-profile matches, though many remained scoreless at halftime. In Amsterdam, a highly anticipated clash between the Netherlands and Germany was deadlocked at 0-0. Both teams entered the match under new management, with Xavi taking the helm for the Dutch and Jürgen Klopp for the Germans, following disappointing World Cup campaigns. This historic rivalry has seen 48 previous encounters, evenly split with 18 wins for Germany, 18 draws, and 12 for the Netherlands. The Netherlands' starting lineup featured Cody Gakpo and Brian Brobbey, while Germany saw a late change as Nadiem Amiri replaced the injured Jamal Musiala, who had been in strong form for Bayern Munich. Germany's all-time record is strong when Musiala scores, and Manuel Neuer's likely final retirement saw Marc-Andre ter Stegen start in goal.

Elsewhere in League A, Group D, Norway and Denmark were also tied 0-0 at the break. This fixture marked the 91st meeting between the Scandinavian rivals, with Denmark holding a significant advantage in wins. Norway, considered the top Scandinavian team currently, was without the injured Alexander Sørloth. Meanwhile, in League B, Group C, Kosovo faced Ireland with the score also 0-0. Kosovo's preparations were disrupted by the unexpected withdrawal of their long-time captain, Amir Rrahmani, due to a dispute with the Football Federation of Kosovo. Ireland, despite off-field distractions, aimed to focus on the match.

In League B, Group C, the table showed Austria, Ireland, Israel, and Kosovo all starting with zero points. In League D, Andorra secured a 2-1 victory over Malta, while Liechtenstein and Lithuania were tied 0-0 at halftime. Portugal, led by Cristiano Ronaldo in his 234th national team appearance, faced Wales in a match that was also 0-0 at halftime. This was the first meeting between the two nations since Portugal's victory in the Euro 2016 semi-finals. The match also marked the debut of veteran coach Jorge Jesus for the Portuguese national team.