Klopp all smiles after Germany debut, Haaland keeps scoring in Nations League

BERLIN (AP) — Germany began a new era under Jürgen Klopp, Erling Haaland scored two goals for Norway, and Cristiano Ronaldo was still playing for Portugal in the Nations League on Thursday.

Klopp was all smiles in Amsterdam despite Cody Gakpo’s late equalizer for the Netherlands to draw 1-1 with Germany. Ruben van Bommel produced a brilliant cross that Gakpo met with a flying volley in the second minute of stoppage time.

“Wow!” Klopp said of the goal. He wore the same Germany cap with the words “One of 83 million,” referring to the country’s population, that he wore for his squad announcement. He said at the time he wanted to “reclaim the flag” that had been co-opted by the far right.

The Netherlands was also making a fresh start under new coach Xavi Hernández, but it was a bruising game that always seemed capable of boiling over between two old rivals determined to arrest their slides from past heights.

"There were two teams, two very good football teams, in the same situation. Both wanted to prove that things aren’t quite as bad as they’re currently perceived to be. And that showed in the match,” Klopp told broadcaster RTL.

Dutch players were unhappy when Felix Nmecha broke the deadlock in the 32nd because the Germans kept playing despite an injury to Brian Brobbey, who had to go off with what looked like a hamstring injury. Dutch captain Virgil van Dijk raised his finger and exchanged angry words with Jonathan Tah as the German celebrations prompted scuffles, whistles from the fans, and plastic cups thrown on the field.

There were more scuffles in the second half, especially after a bad challenge by Germany’s Nadiem Amiri on Denzel Dumfries, who was able to continue. Dumfries later clashed with Germany captain Joshua Kimmich.

Amiri was only playing because Jamal Musiala suffered a thigh problem in the warmup. Kai Havertz also went off early after clutching the back of his left thigh.

In the other group game, Tasos Douvikas scored a last-second winner for Greece 2-1 in Serbia.

Haaland scored twice for Norway to beat Denmark 3-2 in Oslo to take his tally to 64 goals in 56 appearances for the country.

In the same group, the 41-year-old Ronaldo played 67 minutes for Portugal in a 1-0 win over Wales that gave new coach Jorge Jesus a successful start.

Jesus’ decision to pair João Félix with the veteran star in attack paid off as the 26-year-old Félix’s early strike from outside the penalty area was enough to decide the result.

Israel’s Sayed Abu Farchi was sent off after taking his celebrations too far for the referee when he equalized against Austria in Linz. The Colorado Rapids forward pulled out a corner flag and appeared to make a firing gesture, though it was unclear if it was simulating a pool cue or a gun. He was promptly shown a second yellow card, just four minutes after his first.

Phillipp Mwene and Saša Kalajdžić scored in the final minutes for Austria to win 3-1.

In the other group game, Vedat Muriqi scored late for Kosovo to beat Ireland 1-0 in Pristina.

See AP’s full soccer coverage here

Dutch players celebrate after scoring during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between the Netherlands and Germany in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Cody Gakpo, of the Netherlands, scores during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between the Netherlands and Germany in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Germany's coach Jurgen Klopp talks to media before the UEFA Nations League soccer match between the Netherlands and Germany in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Germany's coach Jurgen Klopp walks off the pitch after the UEFA Nations League soccer match between the Netherlands and Germany in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Utah prosecutors are dropping their plan to seek the death penalty in an upcoming retrial of a 71-year-old man who spent decades on death row for a 1985 killing in which newly analyzed DNA evidence did not match him.

Douglas Stewart Carter was sentenced to death in 1985 after a jury found him guilty of murdering Eva Olesen, the aunt of a former Provo police chief. The state Supreme Court last year ordered a new trial, citing misconduct by investigators. Carter remains in custody and maintains his innocence.

No physical evidence linked him to the crime scene, but the jury convicted Carter, a Black man, based on a signed confession and two witnesses who said he had bragged about killing Olesen, who was white.

Judge Derek Pullan set a bond hearing for Monday, when defense attorney Neal Hamilton said he expects his client to be released pending an eight-week trial set to begin next July.

“It's not time to try to save face and continue with a tainted prosecution,” Hamilton said. “They know they don't have a case. The moral obligation is to dismiss.”

Utah County Attorney Jeffrey Gray said in a Wednesday court filing that the state was withdrawing an earlier notice that it intended to seek the death penalty. He said results of a DNA analysis received Tuesday excluded Carter as a possible match to blood found on a doorknob and material found on the handle of a knife used to stab Olesen, who was also shot.

Gray said the state planned to reexamine its decision to move forward with the case. But the prosecutor added that the new evidence “does not necessarily exonerate Carter of the murder.” Gray noted the handgun used to shoot Olesen was never found and Carter confessed.

Members of Olesen's family had testified during a hearing last month that Carter could pose a safety risk to them if he were released.

In a Thursday statement, the family said they “will not comment on the guilt or innocence of any individual” while prosecutors decide how to proceed.

“The latest developments have raised difficult questions and once again left our family without the sense of resolution we had hoped for after so many years,” the family said in the statement released by the Utah County Attorney's Office.

Carter has said his signed confession was coerced. The two witnesses he allegedly bragged to — a couple living in the U.S. without legal status — said years later that police and prosecutors offered to pay their rent, coached them to lie in court and threatened them and their son with deportation if they did not implicate Carter.

His defense attorneys also say witnesses saw a white man fleeing the crime scene and that an investigator suppressed evidence pointing to other suspects, including the victim’s husband, Orla Olesen. They allege prosecutors were close to filing charges against the husband, but a Provo police lieutenant asked them not to, so he could continue investigating. Carter was identified as a suspect soon after, the document alleges.

Orla Olesen, who died in 2009, had told police he found his wife dead in their home, partially undressed and with her hands tied behind her back.

FILE - Fourth District Judge Derek Pullan presides over a hearing for Douglas Carter in 4th District Court in Provo, Utah, April 3, 2026. (Chris Samuels/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP, Pool, File)

FILE - Utah County Attorney Jeffrey Gray stands during a hearing on the shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in 4th District Court in Provo, Utah, Feb. 3, 2026. (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP, Pool, File)

FILE - Douglas Carter is brought into the courtroom for a hearing in 4th District Court in Provo, Utah, April 3, 2026. (Chris Samuels/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP, Pool, File)