Virgil van Dijk and Jurgen Klopp were reunited as the Netherlands took on Germany, with the former Liverpool manager taking charge of his country for the first time
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - SEPTEMBER 24: Jurgen Klopp, Head Coach of Germany, reacts with Virgil van Dijk of Netherlands during the warm up before the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Netherlands and Germany at Johan Cruijff Arena on September 24, 2026 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Virgil van Dijk greets Jurgen Klopp ahead of the Netherlands' game against Germany(Image: Getty Images)
Virgil van Dijk couldn’t hide his delight at being reunited with his former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, more than two years on from the legendary boss’ departure from Anfield.
The pair went head-to-head as Klopp took charge of Germany for the first time in a Nations League encounter with the Netherlands in Amsterdam. Van Dijk wasn’t the only familiar face coming up against their former boss, with Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo also starting for the hosts.
Van Dijk has made no secret of the impact Klopp had on his career during his time in charge on Merseyside, and the Liverpool captain was particularly emotional when his former boss bid farewell to Anfield in 2024.
Getting the chance to meet up with him again then clearly delighted Van Dijk, with the 35-year-old seen sharing a warm embrace with Klopp before kick-off in Amsterdam on Thursday, and the Liverpool captain even looked as though he didn’t want to let go.
The exchange may have helped cheer Van Dijk up, who was involved in a frosty press conference ahead of the game, with the Reds’ defender hitting out at reporters after it was suggested that he held some responsibility for his country’s early exit from the World Cup.
Klopp jumped to his former captain’s defense, saying in his own press conference: "Our German journalists are pretty good [at being critical] too.
"I haven't really followed the Dutch press, but I assume you weren't happy with the elimination. Then the captain gets more criticism too.
"Virgil has had a lot of great moments in his career and also a few lesser ones. Because he is not only physically present, but normally also because of his performances, I can imagine that he gets singled out a bit."
While Van Dijk was happy to see Klopp again, his smile was wiped from his face when the game got underway as controversy reigned throughout the first half. The defender saw his opener disallowed by VAR before he was left furious by Germany taking the lead.
Lukas Nmecha struck just after the half-hour mark, although only after the Dutch players had implored their visitors to put the ball out of play after Brian Brobbey went down injured. The Sunderland striker appeared to pull his hamstring off the ball, although Germany continued on the attack.
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The referee looked as though he was about to bring play to a halt at one point as he put the whistle to his mouth, only to then wave play on, with Germany lifting the ball into the box before Nmecha pounced to turn the ball home.
As the visitors celebrated, the Netherlands reacted angrily, with Denzel Dumfries confronting the goalscorer and his teammates before Van Dijk got involved, furiously waving his finger at Germany’s players and the referee as he argued that play should have been stopped before the goal was scored.
On the sideline, Klopp looked baffled at the reaction from his former captain and the Dutch players, with the 59-year-old raising his arms in bewilderment as he celebrated the first goal of his tenure.