HOLLAND have beaten Poland 2-1 in their opening game at Euro 2024.
Robert Lewandowski replacement Adam Buksa bagged the opening goal of the game for the Poles with a brilliant header.
Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo levelled soon after with a deflected strike.
But ex-Man Utd man Wout Weghorst came on with 10 minutes to go and scored his side a winner just two minutes after coming on.
- Kick-off time: 2pm BST
- Stream/TV: BBC One/BBC iPlayer
- Poland XI: Szczesny, Frankowski, Bednarek, Salamon, Kiwior, Urbanski, Romanczuk, Zielinski, Zalewski, Szymanski, Buksa
- Holland XI: Verbruggen, Dumfries, De Vrij, Van Dijk, Ake, Reijnders, Schouten, Veerman, Gakpo, Simons, Memphis
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“Tough match”
Netherlands star Cody Gakpo: “It was a tough match and a tough opponent.
“They scored first and it was a little more difficult, but we created a lot of good opportunities and we had to be more clinical – overall I think we performed pretty well.
“We have to analyse the game and see where we could hurt them more. Obviously we are a team that never gives up.”
Credit: GETTY What’s next?
Well, you’ve got about 40 minutes of rest before we’re straight back to it, folks.
Up next is Slovenia vs Denmark at 5pm, before the big one as England get their tournament underway against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen.
I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I’ve copy and pasted Gelsenkirchen this week.
Gareth is readyCredit: GETTY Spot on
Patrik Schick nailed on to score for the Czech Republic against Portugal on Tuesday then…
Credit: X
“He is clinical”
BBC pundit Ashley Williams: “Wout Weghorst is anticipating before the defender that the ball will where he needs it to, on his left foot and that’s a good finish.
“That’s exactly what he brought him on for. Just one moment.
“We were talking at half-time that they had a few half chances that hadn’t been put away. He gets his half chance and he is clinical with it.”
Mr 100%
Wout Weghorst has scored with his past three shots at major tournaments. If you remember, he got two against Argentina at the World Cup.
Group D
It’s early days, but Netherlands lead Group D.
France and Austria are in action tomorrow with Didier Deschamps fancied to get their competition up and running in style.
Here’s what the remaining fixtures look like;
- 17 June: Austria vs France
- 21 June: Poland vs Austria
- 21 June: Netherlands vs France
- 25 June: Netherlands vs Austria
- 25 June: France vs Poland
France are in action on MondayCredit: UEFA Poland 1-2 Holland
FT: The Dutch clinch three points!
They’ve not exactly struck fear into the hearts of the likes of France, England, Germany and Spain – but Ronald Koeman’s side did well to comeback from a goal down in Hamburg.
Good character and very impressive strength in depth sees them to a nervy 2-1 win over Poland. The Poles were far better than expected, especially without talisman Robert Lewandowski.
But… Wout Weghorst off the bench is simply inevitable.
Wout Weghorst celebratesCredit: GETTY Poland 1-2 Holland
94: Poland now pushing a few more into the Dutch half. Obviously goal difference isn’t hugely important with the H2H record the first decider in this competition.
Poland 1-2 Holland
92: Not a huge amount coming from Poland in these dying minutes. Holland slowing things down and trying to take the sting out of proceedings.
Poland 1-2 Holland
90: Five minutes added time.
Poland 1-2 Holland
89: Kind of a win for strength in depth. Ronald Koeman has plenty of options to choose from on his bench, hugely important in long competitions like the Euros.
Obvious statements aside, Bart Verbruggen is tested when saving from Karol Swiderski before Jakub Piotrowski slams the rebound into the side netting.
Poland 1-2 Holland
87: Bartosz Bereszynski comes on for Bartosz Salamon for Poland. Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven also replaces Nathan Ake for the closing stages.
No sign of a late fightback, yet.
Poland 1-2 Holland
85: The Oranje fans are going ballistics inside the Volksparkstadion. No idea what they are singing but it must be along the lines of Wout Weghorst being the best player of all time. I’m sure…
Poland 1-2 Holland – Weghorst
82: And there it is! Would you believe it, Wout Weghorst gives Holland the lead with his first touch!
That’s surely going to be the winner for Ronald Koeman’s side. It took him less than 120 seconds!
Nathan Ake spots the run inside the penalty area and finds Weghorst with a slick diagonal pass and the big man converts at the first time of asking. That’s his seventh goal in his last 11 international caps.
Wout Weghorst of the Netherlands celebratesCredit: GETTY Poland 1-1 Holland
81: Unleash the Wout! Battering ram Wout Weghorst arrives to replace Cody Gakpo. Memphis Depay also departs with Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong. He’s no stranger to late goals for Xabi Alonso’s side…
Poland 1-1 Holland
80: Skipper Piotr Zielinski is off. Jakub Piotrowski comes on as the armband is given to goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.
Final 10 minutes in Hamburg.
Poland 1-1 Holland
77: The Dutch have had 20 shots so far in this contest, which is their most in a game at a major tournament since 2014 against Costa Rica. I suspect there’ll be a few more before the day is over.
Just three of those on target, mind.
Poland 1-1 Holland
74: Chance! An unmarked Stefan de Vrij heads over from a corner. He shouts at himself for not at least getting that on target.
Poland 1-1 Holland
73: Ronald Koeman’s changes have made a difference. Substitute Donyell Malen has given Poland something different to think about with his movement, and they are sitting extremely deep to combat his introduction.
Not clinging on, but Poland aren’t comfortable.
Poland 1-1 Holland
70: Just a half-chance for Memphis Depay, whose touch lets him down. Jerdy Schouten finds him inside the penalty area but the ball bounces off his shin and straight to goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.
But there’s no rest for Szczesny, who then makes himself big to deny Denzel Dumfries after a good overlap on the right channel.
Bartosz Salamon holds back Memphis DepayCredit: GETTY Poland 1-1 Holland
68: Donyell Malen creates some space on the edge of the penalty area but Denzel Dumfries’ cross/shot goes wide. Karol Swiderski then goes on a mazy run forward but doesn’t really have any options alongside him.
There’s a goal left in this, folks. Maybe a couple.
Poland 1-1 Holland
65: Just over 25 minutes left. We remain all-square at Volksparkstadion but this one really could go either way.
Poland 1-1 Holland
63: Poland have clearly lulled us all into a false sense of security. They’ve let off the handbrake over the last five minutes and have created two or three half chances.
Nicola Zalewski smashes the latest one over after some good work from Jakub Moder.
Ronald Koeman’s reacts by sending on Donyell Malen and Georginio Wijnaldum for Joey Veerman and Xavi Simons.
Poland 1-1 Holland
60: Save! That’s a very solid chance for Poland to regain the lead. The ball is worked over to the unmarked Jakub Kiwior at the back post, who controls and draws a good save from Bart Verbruggen with his legs.
Karol Swiderski fights for the ball with Netherlands’ defender Stefan de VrijCredit: GETTY Poland 1-1 Holland
58: Karol Swiderski and Bartosz Slisz replace Nicola Zalewski and Kacper Urbanski for Poland. That’s Swiderski who injured himself when celebrating a goal in Poland’s most recent friendly with Turkey.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
