Jurgen Klopp reunites with Virgil van Dijk at World Cup after starting new job
They won everything they could win together during their time at Liverpool and now both Virgil van Dijk and Jurgen Klopp are at the World Cup for different purposes
Jurgen Klopp and Virgil van Dijk have touched base in the USA(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Jurgen Klopp and Virgil van Dijk had a World Cup selfie as part of a mini Liverpool reunion. Klopp and Van Dijk caught up with each other a day after the Netherlands’ draw with Japan.
The Liverpool defender scored his nation’s first goal of the World Cup with a pinpoint header into the far corner, only to be left disappointed after the Japanese equalised on two occasions and secured a draw. Just over a day from the Netherlands’ draw with the Japanese, Van Dijk and Klopp’s paths crossed in the USA.
The iconic former Reds manager is at the World Cup in a punditry capacity for German outlet Magenta TV, where he has caused a stir with some of his blunt comments. However, both players took a break from their respective duties to catch up in the USA.
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They appeared to have come across each other while on an evening out in the USA. Van Dijk was donned in smart casual clothes, while Klopp wore an Adidas jumper and Adidas original baseball cap.
Both Liverpool legends have been busy across the pond. However, the one making the most headlines so far is Klopp, who has proven to have a razor sharp tongue as a pundit.
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He was recently forced into an apology after he cast doubt on the future of Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann. Klopp, who has regularly been linked to the managerial job at Die Mannschaft, was talking about the Germans’ starting XI ahead of their 7-1 victory over Curacao.
As he was suggesting Nagelsmann should not have started Jamal Musiala in the game, Klopp said: “Luckily, Julian Nagelsmann is still picking the team” suggesting the ex-Bayern Munich manager may not be there for much longer.
He went on to apologise for his comment in his next television appearance, admitting it was a silly thing to say. He said: “I’ve already found the most hated word of the year: ‘Still’. I could have punched myself in the face for that, but it was already too late and I was on TV.
“It just slipped out so casually, and has absolutely no relevance. What I’ve realised is, I’ll be 59 on Tuesday and I’m still an idiot. We are completely on your side, whatever you do with this. Nothing will come of it that is intended to disrupt the process here.”
Nagelsmann was less than enthusiastic about talking about the matter when asked about Klopp’s comments by a German reporter. He quickly demanded the journalist’s verdict on the comments, who described them as being “a bit prickly” before saying, “Good. Then. Next question” to bring down the curtain on the matter.
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