June 16th 2024.
Wout Weghorst, the former Manchester United star, proved to be the hero for the Netherlands as he scored a late winner against Poland in their first game at Euro 2024. The 31-year-old striker had predicted his goal earlier and it turned out to be true, much to his delight.
Poland had taken the lead with an early goal from Adam Buksa, but the Dutch team fought back with an equalizer from Liverpool's Cody Gakpo. However, they were struggling to find the winning goal until Weghorst made his appearance on the field in the 81st minute, replacing Memphis Depay. With his first touch of the ball, he scored the decisive goal, making him an instant cult hero with his country once again.
Weghorst had already gained a similar status at Old Trafford when he joined Manchester United on loan from Burnley in the second half of the 2022/23 season, effectively replacing Cristiano Ronaldo. Though he only managed to score two goals, both not in the Premier League, he left a lasting impression. However, he was not signed permanently and spent the last season on loan at Hoffenheim, where he found the back of the net seven times.
Despite his lack of success at the club level, Weghorst continues to shine for his country, scoring crucial goals. In fact, he claims that his latest goal was something he had predicted before the match. After the game, he shared, "You almost have a feeling. 1st touch, 1 shot, 1 goal. Not a bad day at the office for Wout Weghorst."
He further revealed that he had told his partner earlier in the morning that the game would end in a draw, and he would come on as a substitute and score the winning goal. "Sometimes, you just feel it," he added.
Dutch manager Ronald Koeman also had high praise for Weghorst, stating that the striker was not happy to learn that he would be starting on the bench. However, his disappointment only fueled his determination, and he made a strong impact when he finally got the chance to play. "Wout is aggressive, he always takes initiative, and has a good header as well. He had one chance and found the net," Koeman said.
Weghorst will now be hoping that his impressive performance will earn him a place in the starting lineup when the Netherlands takes on France on Friday. With his knack for scoring crucial goals, the Dutch team will surely be counting on him to make a difference on the field.
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