When the Netherlands won the European Championship in this country 36 years ago, they were total football practitioners; a nation whose game can only be beautiful. But these are more humble days and when they need it, target people will do it.
Time ran out in the Dutch desperate search for a winner in a game they overwhelmingly dominated when substitute Wout Weghorst stepped in with the immediate finish needed, took the ball from Nathan Ake and drove it into the net to score.
It was a huge city and stadium for the Netherlands, whose semi-final win over West Germany in 1988 was in many ways more important and thrilling than beating Russia in the final.
Germany’s memories of the war in the Netherlands are still fresh and Koeman, who had scored the equalizing penalty before Marco van Basten slid in the winner, stood in front of the Dutch supporters at the end and pretended to rub their backs with the Germany shirt replaced by Olaf Thon. ‘Revenge’, declared the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf the next day.
A different day, of course, although the tens of thousands who turned the Reepenbahn into a sea of ​​orange on Saturday night showed their desire for success. The 1988 tournament, remembered for Van Basten’s appearance in the final, remains the only winner. What will not be given to Van Basten now?
Wout Weghorst scored the decisive goal as the Netherlands won their Euro 2024 opener
Weghorst has now scored from each of his last three shots at a major international tournament
The Netherlands came from behind to beat Poland 2-1 at Hamburg’s Volksparkstadion
His dominance in the first round here suggests there are good reasons to see him as a dark horse. The 13 shots on target are the most by any team in the tournament so far. But only three were on target at the time. The spearhead of the team on paper is the headstrong Memphis Depay – a player too busy with flicks and tricks, playing the ball under the studs and trying to beat the same player twice – but no threat whatsoever.
Cody Gakpo is the more clinical one. A close shot, forcing Wojciech Szczesny to save a few minutes, only to feel the danger posed on the left where he turned his head up, ran at the defender, saw the possibility. Denzel Dumphries offers width at the other end, bombing down the right.
But as four scoring chances clearly flew wide – the best of them fell to Depay from ten yards – the Dutchman was clearly desperate for a finisher, standing in the six-yard box to bury the ball.
Somehow, in the face of overwhelming dominance, the Poles have come a long way. Adam Buksa, filling the boots of Robert Lewandowski, who is injured and on the bench, has previously only scored international goals against Albania, San Marino and the Faroe Islands. However, with a brilliant move, he got in between Dumfries and Virgil van Dijk, to make a header and score.
Weghorst started the match on the bench before coming on as a substitute in the 81st minute
Polish striker Adam Buksa opened the scoring in the 16th minute before sliding on his knee
Buksa’s goal came via a header from Poland’s first corner kick of the match in Hamburg
The Dutch defense has looked as strong as any, coming into this tournament. His indomitable balance and structure often allowed him to win the ball back in the Polish half. He did so decisively, through Nathan Ake’s low clearance from Nicola Zalewski, to score a deflected equalizer just before half-time.
It leaves football clock to secure the championship. Does he have the intelligence and wit to do it? Dutch football feels full of uncertainty, even though Koeman is the coach of the team he once played for. For the first time since 2008, there is not a single Ajax player in the Dutch squad. And that purpose is truly unfathomable. From the 29th minute until the winner went in, there was not a single shot from the Netherlands.
Ake played Gakpo in, although flick through with the right outstep. The Liverpool player drove a breakaway early in the second half and hit Xavi Simons, who shot wide. Borussia Dortmund’s Donyell Malen, for Simons, made an impact but not much else.
It takes a target man to deliver what the Dutch have screamed, seven minutes from time. Weghorst had been on the pitch for two minutes when Ake was allowed plenty of space to get forward and the forward swept the ball into the net.
The win is much needed for the Netherlands, and France are also in this group. They need more of the Weghorst effect if they are going to prosper here.
Poland’s victory came less than 15 minutes before Cody Gakpo equalized for the Netherlands
Gakpo, celebrated with manager Ronald Koeman, has now scored 10 international goals
Defeated Polish players appreciate their supporters after the final whistle in Hamburg
