Jürgen Klopp, Germany manager since the summer, faced Xavi’s Netherlands on Thursday, Xavi having taken the job the same season. It finished 1-1: Felix Nmecha scored for Germany in the 32nd minute, Cody Gakpo equalised for the Netherlands in the 92nd.
Two Dutch goals were disallowed in the match, one to Virgil van Dijk for a foul by Brian Brobbey on goalkeeper Marc-André Ter Stegen, the other to Mexx Meerdink after a scramble in the box. Van Dijk, Netherlands captain and Klopp’s former captain at Liverpool until 2024, said after the match his goal had been disallowed “far too easily”, saying Brobbey had “done absolutely nothing”. Klopp replied that there had indeed been a foul, minor but real, and that he disagreed with his former captain on that point.
The Germany manager was also asked about Nmecha’s goal, scored while Brobbey lay injured on the ground in the centre circle. Klopp said it was for the referee to stop play, not the teams, and that his side had “handled that well”. Cody Gakpo, for his part, said it was “normal to stop play when a player is injured on the ground”, even if the rules don’t require it, and that Germany had “not been sporting” in continuing to play. Denzel Dumfries, meanwhile, chased Nmecha during his celebration.
A manager who publicly explains why he disagrees with his own former captain. In 1980, that was settled in the dressing room, door closed. Now, it’s settled at a press conference, door open, microphone on. Note that I’m not against progress. I’m against this progress.
And this debate about what a referee should or shouldn’t stop, Marcel has heard it before, and better, a long time ago.
A player on the ground, a goal going in, and everyone arguing about whether it was sporting. In 1980, the referee decided alone, we disagreed, and we still went home for dinner. Now it’s debated for a week at press conferences. Well. It’s the times.
It’s true, we checked: RMC Sport.
