Klopp's debut under fire, the Netherlands turns against him
Jürgen Klopp made his debut on Thursday evening as the national coach of Germany, but his prior statements already caused opposition among the Dutch supporters, who criticized him even more during the 1-1 draw against the Netherlands. The match, in which Xavi Hernández also gave his first match as the national coach of the Netherlands, ended without a winner.
Klopp's pre‑match statements
The always broad‑smiling coach, who previously served at Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool, was facing his first national assignment. He had success at Borussia Dortmund, where he led the club to two consecutive championships, and later at Liverpool, where he won the Champions League. His enthusiasm still seemed enough to achieve an undeserved victory, but the match unfolded differently.
Ruben van Bommel delivered a phenomenal assist for Cody Gakpo, who neatly finished the ball to a 1-1 final score. The assist came after a quick run‑through by Gakpo, who received the ball in the sixteen‑meter zone and finished accurately. Shortly afterwards Guus Til headed just wide, keeping the draw intact.
The internet exploded with critical reactions to Klopp's behaviour during the match. ‘What a dirty klapjosti’, shouted a Dutch viewer, while criticizing Klopp's dirty grin after Germany scored. The viewer also mentioned Brian Brobbey, who he claimed was injured on the field, and accused Klopp of a ‘scary man with too many teeth’. Various fans expressed their displeasure on platforms such as Twitter and Instagram, criticizing Klopp's body language and the timing of his high‑five.
Germany coach Jürgen Klopp must re‑motivate four unlucky players after debut
Former striker Wim Kieft spoke out strongly against Klopp, and praised Xavi as the better choice for the Dutch national team. He stated that Xavi, unlike Klopp, does not annoy or irritate and felt no need to settle scores with predecessor Ronald Koeman in his first international. Kieft noted that the German colleague acted towards Julian Nagelsmann before and AFTER the match. Kieft, who himself scored a legendary header goal against Ireland in 1988, felt that Klopp did not show the passion he expected from a German side.
Kieft thought that Klopp showed little fight and energy during the match, and behaved along the sideline like a possessed person. He claimed that Xavi remained calm, gave clear instructions and did not make grotesque gestures. Xavi, who previously shone as a player at Barcelona, stayed focused on tactical discipline during the match and avoided theatrical expressions.
The contrast between Klopp's controversial performance and Xavi's calm approach highlights the division among Dutch fans. It remains to be seen how both coaches will further shape their national teams. The two debuts show that the national teams now train under different philosophies, making the upcoming qualification matches unpredictable.