Xavi spoke about a 1-1 draw between Netherlands and Germany on Thursday evening.
The Oranje fell behind in the 32nd minute at the Johan Cruijff ArenA to a close-range finish from Felix Nmecha, and they should have gone 2-0 down when Karim Adeyemi blazed over the bar following service from Nathaniel Brown. But they bounced back with a stronger second half.
‘The second half is the way we want to play’
Mexx Meerdink watched a goal get disallowed after a melee in the box — the second strike chalked off for the Dutch after a first-half Virgil van Dijk header was struck off for a foul from Brian Brobbey on Marc-André ter Stegen.
Meerdink then missed from point-blank range as Denzel Dumfries burst into the box, and the pressure was piling up from the hosts on their coach’s debut.
Cody Gakpo equalised in second half stoppage time as he converted from a Ruben van Bommel delivery, and the Spaniard saw enough from the team to take confidence into the near future.
Xavi on his Oranje debut
"We were better than Germany today, we had a bit more. In the second half it was really good -- we showed our way to play. I'm so happy. The first half was more or less equal.
“But the players who came into the pitch [as substitutes], I'm so happy, especially those making their debuts. They showed personality, ambition, desire. In the second half is how we must play.
"The personality of the players, the winning mentality - many things, I have good feelings.
"The first half was not too bad, but the second half is the way we want to play. We need to improve in many things -- second balls, duels, defending better, many things -- but I'm so satisfied.
"I am very happy and grateful as it's my first game. Maybe I don't deserve this, but the welcome [the fans] showed me was amazing -- the atmosphere was fantastic. Thank you to all the people."
