Wout Weghorst has called on his fellow Holland attackers to be more clinical at Euro 2024 (Image: Getty)
Wout Weghorst has demanded more from his wasteful Holland team-mates after bailing them out against Poland on Sunday. The towering striker scored two minutes after coming on to clinch a 2-1 win for the Dutch in their first Euro 2024 match.
Holland boss Ronald Koeman admitted Weghorst was 'upset' at being benched at the Volksparkstadion. And bagging an 83rd-minute winner will have sent a message to his manager after starting frontman Memphis Depay missed a gilt-edged chance early in the contest.
"We were dominant in the first half, and we were the better team," said Weghorst. "We created six or seven really, really good chances. But we have to be more clinical and then you can make things easier. We didn't do that."
Weghorst will hope his Hamburg heroics see him promoted to the starting XI for Holland's next Euro 2024 outing. His strong international record, with 12 goals in 34 appearances, poses a sharp contrast to the instincts he showed in the Premier League.
The 31-year-old scored a combined four goals in 51 games across spells with Burnley and Manchester United. Depay, meanwhile, is by far and away the leading international scorer in Holland’s ranks with 45 goals, leaving Koeman with a dilemma.
Memphis Depay has competition for his starting spot up top (Image: Getty)
And the Dutch can’t afford to spurn their opportunities like they did against Poland when they face France on Friday. Group D is one of the toughest at Euro 2024 and Les Bleus are the favourites to snatch top spot.
Weghorst’s influence could be pivotal, and Koeman will also be hoping for a repeat of Cody Gakpo’s man-of-the-match display against the Poles. The Liverpool forward posed a constant threat on the left flank and was rewarded with a deflected equaliser in the first half, following Adam Buksa’s early header.
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Gakpo, like Weghorst, feels that Holland need to improve by finding their ruthless streak in the final third. "We created a lot of good opportunities, good chances," he said. "But we have to be more clinical.
"Overall, I think we performed really well. We are a team that never gives up, and we have good substitutes. We changed the whole front line and they came in and performed very well."
