After the 2-2 draw against the Netherlands, national coach Julian Nagelsmann and captain Joshua Kimmich had to talk to Italian referee Davide Massa. “We had a great chance blown away in the last second. He didn’t whistle well on either side. I also think it was a clear penalty for Jamal,” Nagelsmann complained to TV station RTL. Kimmich thought the referee had been a little “too sensitive.”
Massa had blown the whistle to end the game in the middle of a promising attack by the German team, after a penalty had already been missed for a tackle by Xavi Simons on Musiala in the penalty area (55th minute). “He clearly comes too late and hits Jamal on the foot. In midfield it is definitely a foul,” stressed Nagelsmann.
Massa showed a total of four yellow cards against the German team during the game. “In general, I’m not a big fan of this new system where only one player is allowed to speak to the referee. Sometimes you react with emotions. It has nothing to do with the referee, but you’re annoyed about a situation. I often find that the referees take it in such a way that they’re always talking about them and you quickly get yellow cards,” said Kimmich. In the Nations League in particular, you get suspended after two yellow cards. “Then it can really, really hurt.”
He would like “the referees to not be quite so sensitive,” Kimmich added: “Even if it’s about us having to control our emotions. But it’s not always something personal against the referee.”
© dpa-infocom, dpa:240910-930-228948/1
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