EURO2024
Goal at the Volksparkstadion: Weghorst keeps an old promise
Against Poland, Wout Weghorst scored just two minutes after coming on as a substitute to make it 2-1. Photo
© Sina Schuldt/dpa
Hoffenheim striker Weghorst is the match winner after his goal in the Netherlands’ opening victory at the European Championship. He really wanted to score in Hamburg – and made a promise about ten years ago.
About ten years ago, he and his then club Heracles Almelo played a friendly against the second team of Hamburger SV. “And then we were only allowed to change in the stadium and played on a side pitch,” said the attacker. “I told my friend: next time I come here, I’ll play in the stadium and score a goal.”
Why Weghorst never played for HSV
Weghorst, who currently plays for TSG Hoffenheim and previously played for VfL Wolfsburg, actually thought he would score against the then Bundesliga club Hamburger SV. But the club was relegated to the second division in 2018 and Weghorst moved to Wolfsburg shortly afterwards.
While the Dutchman has scored 66 goals in 146 games in the German top flight – with interruptions due to stints abroad – HSV has been in the second division throughout. “I always wanted to play in the Bundesliga, but HSV never got to the top. That’s why I never played here.”
Against Poland, the 1.97 meter tall attacker scored the 2-1 goal with his first touch of the ball just two minutes after being substituted (83rd minute). Weghorst wanted to celebrate the important victory with his girlfriend in the team’s headquarters in Wolfsburg that evening. After the narrow but deserved victory of the Dutch, France awaits in Group D on Friday (9 p.m./Das Erste) and Austria on June 25 (6 p.m./MagentaTV).