Van Dijk angry about Hernández choices after controversial Netherlands‑Germany duel
While German national team coach Jürgen Klopp defends the interventions of referee Alejandro José Hernández Hernández, Dutch captain Virgil van Dijk expresses his displeasure about the same moments. After the 0‑1 defeat to Germany, the captain accuses the official of multiple questionable decisions that disadvantaged the Oranje.
Van Dijk condemns Hernández‑choices
Virgil van Dijk is definitely not pleased with the performance of Alejandro José Hernández Hernández, who, according to him, explained a number of questionable moments to the detriment of the Oranje. “Personally, I think that goal should not have been disallowed,” says the captain for the cameras of SBS6. The judgment of the Dutch captain remains sharp.
Thus the Dutch eleven thought twice they had scored. First, Van Dijk himself believed he had put the Oranje ahead, but the video referee advised Hernández Hernández to disallow the goal. Van Dijk found that decision unjust and emphasized that “that goal should not have been disallowed”. From the referee’s side, much discussion was stirred.
Brian Brobbey is alleged to have obstructed goalkeeper Marc Ter Stegen too much during Tijjani Reijnders' corner kick. “Brobbey stands in front of the keeper, but he does absolutely nothing,” says Van Dijk. He labels the accusation of obstruction as nonsense and wonders why the official is acting so strictly here.
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Klopp defends the German side
Even at the equaliser, the Oranje complained about the official, who, according to some players, seemed to signal that the game would be stopped because of a hamstring injury to Brobbey. The German team continued and scored, making the final score 0‑1. “At the equaliser we really felt that the ball should have gone out,” Van Dijk laments.
The disallowed goal of Meerdink was also questionable. The debutant AZ player struck the ball against the net, but Hernández Hernández whistled too early, “with Meerdink’s goal he whistles far too quickly, but it’s no different,” says Van Dijk. He sees a pattern of overly rapid decisions.
Van Dijk is not satisfied with the official’s performance. “I am the only person who is allowed to speak (as captain), and then I want to speak and then I get a yellow card…,” he sighs. The feeling of injustice weighs heavily on the Dutch defence.
Van Dijk demands a point for the Oranje after a controversial goal
Jürgen Klopp does not share Hernández’s view. “In Virgil’s goal there was a foul, albeit a slight foul, but indeed a foul, so that goal was rightly disallowed,” says the German national team coach. He emphasizes that it is up to the referee to stop the play, not the players, and concludes that his team correctly kept working.