Rudiger refuses biting Pogba: No doubt about it, It looks unfortunate

Antonio Rudiger

has refuted biting

Paul Pogba

during Germany's loss to France but admits that the photos of the event were "unfortunate." 

France won a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Germany to start their

campaign, but they now have an uphill struggle to advance from Group F. 

The difference between the two teams was a

Mats Hummels

own goal. Rudiger was probably fortunate not to incur any penalty from match official Carlos del Cerro Grande following a strange collision with Pogba.

Rudiger was captured on camera pressing his face into Pogba's shoulder at the first half's conclusion before wrapping his arms around the Man Utd playmaker's chest. 

Pogba then protested to Del Cerro Grande about being bitten, but the referee chose not to show the Chelsea center-back a card. 

In his post-match interview, Pogba defined Rudiger's moves as more of a "nibble" than a "bite" while stressing that he never wanted to see the German player sent off.

"We're friends," he said. "This was nothing big. I'm not crying for yellow or red cards for such actions. He nibbled, I think, a little bit on me.

"I felt it, I told the referee, he takes the decisions and he took the decision. He hasn't received any card and I think it's better like this. I don't want him to be suspended because of this."

Rudiger has conceded that the incident looked awful on TV, but argues that he never intended to hurt Pogba and that the referee did the right thing by not giving him a yellow or a red card.

"I should not come close with my mouth to his back, no doubt about it. It looks unfortunate," the 28-year-old told reporters after the game. "Paul and I have talked about it as friends after the final whistle.

"And he stated in our little talk and talking to the press that it was no bite, as some viewers first thought it was. Even during the match, the ref told me that he would have punished me if he thought that it was violent conduct."

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