In a meeting already charged by the long-running rivalry between the Netherlands and Germany, the first outings for Xavi and Jürgen Klopp on the two benches were marked by a disputed sequence that ended with Felix Nmecha’s 32nd-minute goal.
The Netherlands had initially thought they had taken the lead when Virgil van Dijk headed in from a corner. Hernández Hernández reviewed the incident on VAR, however, and ruled that Brian Brobbey had fouled Marc-André ter Stegen, preventing the German goalkeeper from rising freely to clear the ball.
Injury controversy precedes Germany goal
The greater argument came shortly before Germany went ahead. Brobbey appeared to suffer a clear muscle injury near the halfway line as the move began, with an opportunity for play to be stopped.
Hernández Hernández allowed the game to continue. For a moment, several players seemed to expect a pause, but Joshua Kimmich then sent a pass beyond the Dutch defensive line. The attack continued and Nmecha finished it to put Germany on the scoresheet in the 32nd minute.
Denzel Dumfries, the Real Madrid player, reacted angrily to what he considered unsporting conduct and ran towards Kimmich after the goal. Players from both sides became involved in a confrontation as the Netherlands-Germany contest again found its old edge.
