Liverpool duo hail ex-Manchester United man ‘truly incredible’ at Euro 2024

Manchester United’s 3-0 win over Leicester City comes to mind, for example. Wout Weghorst sank to his knees, eyes rolled skywards in disbelief, as he missed yet another chance to open his Premier League account in that famous red shirt.

However, it turns red to orange, and Weghorst is as prolific as they come. Seven goals in his last 11 caps. Three of his last three.

And while the targetman’s inclusion in the national team continues to divide Oranje supporters with a taste for something a little more refined, you won’t find anyone who would dare question Weghorst’s worth today after coming off the bench to fire home a late winner during the Netherlands’ nervy 2-1 triumph over Poland in Sunday’s Group D opener.

The former Manchester United man, the Netherlands hero won

“He really scored a ‘striker’s goal’,” Ronald de Boer, twice the Dutch Footballer of the Year in the 1990s, told Voetbal Primeur. “He hits great. It’s really incredible. Wout again, unprecedented.”

After Xavi Simons, Cody Gakpo and Memphis Depay all wasted glorious chances, Weghorst needed just two minutes and one touch of the ball to break Poland’s resistance. Reacting sharply to Nathan Ake’s deflected pass in the penalty area, the Burnley-owned centre-forward dived to the near post and rattled an instinctive, emphatic first-time shot past Juventus goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.

“All the replacements that came in did an excellent job. That’s why we’re such a good group,” says Gakpo, the Liverpool midfielder and one-time Man United target, who pays tribute to the in-form Netherlands (NOS) winner.

“I think we can bring a lot of quality, also from the bench. Today, it was Wout who scored (the goal). Very happy.”

The Liverpool duo welcome Wout Weghorst

“We’ve seen, especially in the last two games, that the guys coming off the bench can make the difference,” says Virgil van Dijk, the Netherlands captain and the Anfield giant. “We need this. I thought the four substitutes made the difference. Fresh faces were needed at the end.

“Wout is, of course, a player with a lot of quality. He’s been demonstrating this for months. He is just important. The guys who don’t start have to make the difference when they come on.

“He showed it again today, that’s what we need.”

Weghorst would only score twice for Man United – and neither in the Premier League – but there’s a reason why the former Wolfsburg ace retains the admiration of many of them. The red devils persuasion. The very definition of what it means to be a ‘cult hero’, Weghorst’s arrival – selfless, disciplined and refreshingly passionate – coincided with Man United’s best form of the Ten Hag era.

Lest we forget it was he who set up Marcus Rashford’s winner in that EFL Cup final win over Newcastle, Man United’s first piece of silverware in six years.

“He has a character that you don’t really see in Holland; hunger,” said Ten Hag during his role as an expert on Dutch TV. “He is so driven. And I very rarely see that in a Dutch footballer.”

“His drive got him to where he is now. I think he’s great and I think he’s extremely valuable to his team.”

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