Germany national team manager Jürgen Klopp expressed a mixed reaction after a disallowed goal nullified an otherwise exceptional first-half performance in a scoreless draw against Greece at the Toumba Stadium in Thessaloniki. The match ended 0:0 on Sunday evening, leaving Germany to ponder a missed opportunity after French referee Clement Turpin intervened on review.
“What we played in the first half, that was extraordinary,” Klopp said after the match, noting the sole blemish was the failure to legally convert their chances. “With the small blemish that we didn’t score a goal — or scored one that didn’t count.”
Disallowed Strike Leaves Germany Frustrated in Thessaloniki
The sequence in question unfolded in the 32nd minute of the international fixture. Following a turnover in midfield, Derry Scherhant sprinted down the left flank, shook his marker with a stepover, and delivered a sharp cross that Jonathan Burkardt bundled into the net while falling. The goal initially appeared to give Germany a 1,0-to-0 lead.
However, Greek players had already carried the ball to the center circle for the restart when stadium screens flashed a video assistant review. Referee Clement Turpin was summoned to the pitchside monitor, not to review the finish itself, but an incident several seconds earlier in the midfield buildup. Replays showed the ball striking the outstretched arm of Germany midfielder Tom Bischof during a challenge. While intent was difficult to attribute to the Bayern Munich player, Turpin ruled it a handball offense under Law 12, awarding a free kick to Greece instead of a goal.
“Falls es eine Regel gibt, die sagt, das Tor hätte zählen müssen, dann sagt Bescheid, dann rege ich mich vielleicht ein bisschen mehr darüber auf,” Klopp remarked when asked about the sequence, indicating he was unsure whether the strict application of the handball rule justified wiping out the score. “Im Moment ist es, wie es ist.”
IFAB guidelines define handball criteria for Turpin decision
Under current International Football Association Board guidelines, evaluating handball depends on specific criteria rather than mere contact. The boundary between the shoulder and the arm runs level with the bottom of the armpit. A handball offense occurs if a player intentionally touches the ball with the hand or arm, scores directly or immediately after an accidental handball, or unsuitably enlarges their silhouette by positioning their hand or arm away from a natural body movement.
Because Bischof showed no intent and the contact did not happen immediately prior to the shot, Turpin’s decision hinged on whether the midfielder’s arm position constituted an unnatural enlargement of his body. The interpretation effectively erased Scherhant’s would-be maiden assist and denied Burkardt his first senior international goal.
“We played a good game in the first half and should have simply rewarded ourselves with the goal,” Scherhant said. “It’s annoying that one was taken back.”
Why was the goal overturned long after the celebration?
Why was the goal overturned long after the celebration?
Referee Clement Turpin received a delayed review notification via his headset while Greece players prepared to restart from the center circle. The VAR sequence required checking the entire attacking phase back to the midfield challenge involving Tom Bischof.
What did Julian Klopp say about his team’s overall performance?
The Germany manager praised the opening 45 minutes as extraordinary, pointing out that the team’s execution was strong apart from the inability to officially get on the scoreboard.
How does Law 12 define handball in build-ups?
Under current rules, an accidental handball by an outfield player is penalised if it immediately precedes a goal or if the player’s arm position unnaturally enlarges their silhouette during the buildup phase.
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