Euro 2024 – Poland 1-2 Netherlands: Former Manchester United striker Wout Weghorst scores winner with Cody Gakpo also on target | Football News
Netherlands survived an early scare to defeat Poland 2-1 in Hamburg in the opening game of Group D at Euro 2024 as former Manchester United striker Wout Weghorst came off the bench to score a late winner.
Robert Lewandowski was absent for the Poles due to a hamstring injury, but his replacement Adam Buksa filled the void to glance Michal Probierz’s side in front (16) from Piotr Zielinski’s corner.
Netherlands, who had already missed good chances through Tijjani Reijnders and Xavi Simons, ought to have levelled when Memphis Depay lifted his shot over the bar six minutes later – but they restored parity when Cody Gakpo’s deflected shot wrong-footed Wojciech Szczesny (29).
It was the first of five attempts Gakpo had in the first half during a wasteful performance – the joint-most on record (since 1980) for a Dutch player in the first half of a match at the Euros.
Cody Gakpo celebrates after equalising for the Netherlands
Poland needed the interval, but they showed more attacking intent upon the restart as Jakub Kiwior’s shot took a nick off Nathan Ake and forced Bart Verbruggen to make the save, before Piotr Zielinski’s attempt from 20 yards brought another smart stop from the Dutch goalkeeper.
This was a spirited Polish team but after Denzel Dumfries swept another attempt wide of the far post, it was substitute Weghorst – still a Burnley player – who scored the winner within five minutes of coming off the bench, latching onto a clever through ball from Ake to guide home his seventh goal in his last 11 appearances for the Oranje.
Bartosz Salamon fights for the ball with Memphis Depay
Poland refused to give up as substitute Karol Swiderski nearly levelled when he met Jakub Piotrowski’s cross to fire low towards the near post and have Verbruggen at full stretch before Piotrowski’s follow-up was blazed into the side-netting.
The result means the Netherlands top the group ahead of France facing Austria in the other match from the opening gameweek in Düsseldorf on Monday.
Koeman knows Dutch must play better to top group
Adam Buska celebrates after heading Poland in front against the Netherlands
Sky Sports’ Ben Grounds:
“This was not the most convincing of victories but an important one for the Dutch. They had to be patient here in Hamburg but the relief was etched all over Ronald Koeman’s face following Weghorst’s late intervention. The Netherlands lost twice to Group D counterparts France in qualifying so there is very little margin for error.
“They had entered the tournament with six wins in seven matches and 21 goals scored during that period – and they showed a fine response to Buksa’s opener and really ought to have sealed this victory long before the man still on Burnley’s books did.
Memphis Depay beats Nicola Zalewski to the ball
“Koeman knows his side must play a lot better to top the group. His men dictated possession only for Poland to go close when Nicola Zalewski had a header saved by Brighton’s Verbruggen.
“That said, the Dutch have a manager who is capable of making tactical alterations that can decide games as he turned to his bench for Weghorst to provide the answer when he rifled home Ake’s low ball into the area just two minutes after coming on.
“We still we await our first draw, and in truth we still await our first surprise of the tournament. It’s going to form so far. A brave defeat for Poland.”
Gakpo: We have to be more clinical
Cody Gakpo scores the Netherlands’ equaliser against Poland
Netherlands‘ forward Cody Gakpo:
“It was a tough match, a tough opponent. They scored first, so it was a little bit more difficult, but we created a lot of good opportunities, good chances. We have to be more clinical. Overall, we performed pretty well.
“We have to analyse the game and see where we could hurt them more and then take that to the next one.
“I think it’s a strength of our team that, even though for some it’s the first time, they [the younger players] performed well.”
Stats: Story of the match
Dutch delight – Opta stats
Wojciech Szczesny makes an early save to deny the Dutch
- Cody Gakpo has scored in all four of his group stage starts for the Netherlands at major tournaments (four goals at the World Cup/EUROs), while he’s now scored in his first start at both the World Cup and European Championships.
- Wout Weghorst scored the fastest goal by a Netherlands substitute at the European Championships, netting the winning goal of the game just two minutes and 18 seconds after coming off the bench.
- Netherlands had 21 shots against Poland – their most in a game at a major tournament (World Cup/EUROs) since 2012 against Denmark (32).
- Since losing all three games at EURO 2012, Netherlands have gone unbeaten in 10 straight group stage games at major tournaments (World Cup/EUROs), winning nine of those (D1).
So far in Group D…
