Germany shock Holland

Germany star Gnabry tormented Dutch captain Van Dijk as the former ran out 3-2 winners in Amsterdamn. AFP PHOTO

Paris- Germany’s Nico Schulz sealed a thrilling 3-2 win over the Netherlands in a see-saw Euro 2020 qualifier as Joachim Loew’s new-look line-up survived a severe test on Sunday.

Elsewhere, World Cup finalists Croatia stumbled to a 2-1 defeat in Hungary, and Eden Hazard celebrated a century of caps with the opening goal in Belgium’s 2-0 win over Cyprus.

A revamped Germany raced into a 2-0 lead in Amsterdam with thrilling strikes from Leroy Sane and Serge Gnabry but the hosts struck back with a second half header from Matthijs De Ligt before Memphis Depay pounced for an equaliser on 63 minutes.

The four-time world champions were put under immense pressure from a Netherlands side seeking a winner but the visitors, who were booed by their own fans in a 1-1 friendly draw against Serbia last Wednesday, snatched victory in the 90th minute through 25-year-old Schulz.

The Hoffenheim midfielder, who made his international debut in August, tapped home a loose ball after a tireless Sane had taken the defence with him on a run into the box.

The win comes after Loew took an axe to Germany’s squad ahead of the qualifying campaign in the aftermath of last year’s calamitous World Cup elimination, when he told Bayern Munich trio Thomas Mueller, Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels they had no future in the national side.

Bayern stopper Manuel Neuer may also come under pressure for his place after De Ligt beat him with a flying header just after the restart. Neuer, 32, was also slow to react as Depay pounced for the equaliser. Dutch ‘keeper Jasper Cillesen was left with little chance after Gnabry ended his mazy run by outwitting Virgil Van Dijk before sending a rasping long-range effort into the bottom corner in the early action.

Chelsea star Hazard celebrated his 100th cap by scoring the opener in their 2-0 win over Cyprus in Group I with Michy Batshuayi grabbing the second as Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois went largely untested in the Belgian goal.

Euro 2020 qualifier
Northern Ireland 2-1 Belarus
Netherlands 2-3 Germany
Hungary 2-1 Croatia
Wales 1-0 Slovakia
Israel 4-2 Austria
Slovenia 1-1 North Macedonia
Poland 2-0 Latvia
Kazakhstan 0-4 Russia
San Marino 0-2 Scotland
Cyprus 0-2 Belgium
Georgia 0-2 Switzerland
Gibraltar 0-1 Republic of Ireland
Malta 2-1 Faroe Islands
Sweden 2-1 Romania
Spain 2-1 Norway
Bosnia & H 2-1 Amernia
Italy 2-0 Finland
Liechtenstein 0-2 Greece