Van de Ven And Van Hecke Play Full Match As Netherlands Draw With Germany

Micky van de Ven and Jan Paul van Hecke both played the full 90 minutes as the Netherlands started their Nations League campaign with a late draw against Germany in Amsterdam.

This was the Netherlands’ first match under new head coach Xavi, and both Tottenham defenders started. Van de Ven reached his 25th senior international cap, while Van Hecke made his 17th appearance for the national team.

The Netherlands believed they had scored early when Virgil van Dijk headed in from a corner, but the goal was disallowed. Germany then took the lead through Felix Nmecha, putting the Dutch behind against a German team also starting fresh with head coach Jürgen Klopp.

For most of the match, it seemed like Nmecha’s goal would be the winner. The Netherlands kept pushing for an equaliser, and their efforts paid off late when Cody Gakpo scored to make it 1-1. His goal secured a point for the Dutch and stopped Germany from winning away.

Tottenham fans will be happy to see that both Van de Ven and Van Hecke both completed the whole match against tough opponents and came out of it without injury. The opportunity for them to continue building a partnership is also critical for Spurs, and while Micky played at left-back, he would still be in consistent contact with JP.

The draw gives the Netherlands a point to build on as they get used to Xavi’s leadership. The former Barcelona midfielder and head coach will be the perfect role model for another Spurs Dutch international. Xavi Simons, the Tottenham attacker, is still on the injury table, but all three Spurs players now have a head coach who has been there and done it all as a player.

The Netherlands have a quick turnaround before their next Nations League match. They head to Serbia on Sunday, 27 September, hoping to turn their draw into a win. Tottenham fans will be watching to see how both players perform and hope that no knocks or injuries happen. Roberto De Zerbi will be counting on both as they return from the international stage.

Micky van de Ven made his senior Netherlands debut against France on 13 October 2023, in a 2-1 defeat. Jan Paul van Hecke debuted against Germany on 10 September 2024, coming on in a 2-2 draw.

Both will return from the international break with an away trip to Manchester United on Saturday, 10 October, with kick-off scheduled for 5:30pm BST