Klopp and Kimmich reject van Dijk's accusation: German goal against Netherlands was legitimate

Unfair or clever? Even after the game, the dispute over Germany's opening goal in the 1-1 draw against the Netherlands continued in the catacombs of the Arena in Amsterdam. Oranje captain Virgil van Dijk called Felix Nmecha's goal a "disgrace" because the German players had not previously played the ball out of bounds, even though Holland striker Brian Brobbey was injured and was sitting on the pitch without any action from the opposition.

National coach Jürgen Klopp clearly rejected the accusation made by his former captain at Liverpool FC after the wild start to the Nations League, as did DFB captain Joshua Kimmich. The rule is that the referee interrupts the game, not the players, both said in unison.

Kimmich had played the ball to the right to Philipp Treu and - despite complaints from the Dutch - initiated the attack that ultimately resulted in Nmecha's goal. While celebrating the goal, there were scuffles on the lawn.

“The goal is completely legitimate”

“It was certainly no shame,” Klopp said later in the press conference. «The goal is completely legitimate. I don't have a bad conscience. And I would have one if it wasn't legitimate. I would have taken it anyway, but I would have a guilty conscience. I don't have that." If that had happened to his team, “I would have told my players that you have to keep playing.”

“I played a pass to Philipp, he crossed - and we scored a goal,” said Kimmich, describing his view of the exciting scene. “The referee stops the game, especially if a player has a head injury. It is the referee's job to determine whether the player is seriously injured."

Kimmich to van Dijk: “No reflected answer”

He “didn’t hear a whistle, so everything went on completely correctly,” said Kimmich in the catacombs. Van Dijk stood in front of the reporters just a few meters away. When asked about the accusation of “shame,” Kimmich remarked: “I don’t find that a thoughtful answer from him.”

Especially when you're in defense, you just have to keep playing, said Klopp. «They didn't. And we made great use of it with a really great campaign. Good cross, good running route. Felix was where he needed to be - and hit the ball in." Van Dijk's reaction was exaggerated: "It was certainly not a shame, but out of emotion, anything is always allowed to be said."