25 September 2026 Punjab Khabarnama Bureau : Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk was left furious after Germany’s goal was allowed to stand in the teams’ 1-1 UEFA Nations League draw in Amsterdam.
Van Dijk questioned the decision after Germany took the lead through Felix Nmecha, arguing that play should have been stopped following an injury to Netherlands forward Brian Brobbey. Germany’s Joshua Kimmich, however, defended the goal and said it was correctly allowed.
Van Dijk Calls Germany Goal a ‘Disgrace’
Van Dijk described the decision to allow Germany’s goal as a “disgrace”, expressing his frustration over the circumstances surrounding the attack.
Brobbey had gone down during a challenge shortly before Germany moved forward. Netherlands players expected the game to be stopped, but Germany continued playing and eventually created the chance that led to Nmecha’s goal.
Nmecha Gives Germany the Lead
Germany took the lead in the 32nd minute after Joshua Kimmich helped move the ball into the attacking area.
A cross into the box was intercepted by a Netherlands player, but the ball fell to Nmecha, who finished from close range to put Germany ahead.
The goal was not overturned by the referee or VAR.
Kimmich Defends the Decision
Germany captain Joshua Kimmich rejected Van Dijk’s criticism.
Kimmich said Van Dijk’s assessment was not reflective of the situation and maintained that the goal was legal according to the referee’s decision.
Netherlands Rescue a Point Late
Germany looked set to begin new coach Jürgen Klopp’s tenure with a victory, but the Netherlands found a late equaliser.
Cody Gakpo scored in stoppage time in the 92nd minute, earning the Netherlands a 1-1 draw in the Nations League Group A2 opener.
Van Dijk’s Own Goal Was Disallowed
The match also contained controversy involving Van Dijk himself.
The Netherlands captain appeared to score from a corner early in the game, but VAR ruled out the goal for a foul involving Germany goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen. Van Dijk later said he felt the decision was too easy to make.
Klopp’s Germany Debut Ends in Draw
The match was Jürgen Klopp’s first game as Germany head coach.
Germany had appeared on course for a winning start after Nmecha’s opener, but Gakpo’s late volley denied them all three points.
Two Different Views of the Incident
The controversy centred on whether Germany should have stopped play because Brobbey was down.
From the Dutch perspective, the injury warranted a stoppage. Germany’s view was that the attack continued within the normal flow of play and that the referee had no reason to intervene.
With neither the referee nor VAR cancelling Nmecha’s goal, it officially stood.
A Dramatic Start to the Nations League
The 1-1 result gave both teams a point in their opening Group A2 fixture, but the match also provided an early talking point for the new coaching eras of Xavi Hernández for the Netherlands and Klopp for Germany.
The late equaliser ensured that the dispute over Germany’s goal did not ultimately decide the result.