World Cup Stories: The unlikely hero (almost)
The Dutch lost their game to Argentina in a heartbreaking fashion. It could have been far less close because they were being outplayed at 2-0 down and going nowhere. So they had to turn to plan B and plan B was called Wout Weghorst. The Netherlands' substitute striker is not a big name and far from the technically most accomplished but he is big and strong. He also knows how to score.
The man has had a decent career, scoring a lot of goals in the German league but has never been linked with an elite European club. A year ago, a struggling English Premiership club (called Burnley) lost Chris Wood, their previous main number-nine striker and signed Weghorts from Wolfsburg. He played pretty well but Burnley failed to stay in the Premier League. With a new coach and Weghorst on relatively high wages, it suited all parties that Weghurst leaves Burnley in the pre-season and the best offer was a loan offer from Besiktas, one of the biggest clubs in the Turkish League.
Weghorst had an injury-hit season but scored a few goals whenever he played and narrowly... just about... made the Dutch squad. Partly because they lack world-class striking options and partly because he gives them a different tactical solution. With the Dutch struggling against a technically better but physically unintimidating Argentina, the coach decided to bring on the big target man striker because there was nothing left to lose. The man took his moment and scored two goals against Messi's Argentina to take the game to extra time. He scored his penalty too but sadly it was not enough for his team. He could not have done more though.
This is how the story of how a Burnley loan player scored two goals in a World Cup Quarterfinal and almost ended Lionel Messi's international career.
The man has had a decent career, scoring a lot of goals in the German league but has never been linked with an elite European club. A year ago, a struggling English Premiership club (called Burnley) lost Chris Wood, their previous main number-nine striker and signed Weghorts from Wolfsburg. He played pretty well but Burnley failed to stay in the Premier League. With a new coach and Weghorst on relatively high wages, it suited all parties that Weghurst leaves Burnley in the pre-season and the best offer was a loan offer from Besiktas, one of the biggest clubs in the Turkish League.
Weghorst had an injury-hit season but scored a few goals whenever he played and narrowly... just about... made the Dutch squad. Partly because they lack world-class striking options and partly because he gives them a different tactical solution. With the Dutch struggling against a technically better but physically unintimidating Argentina, the coach decided to bring on the big target man striker because there was nothing left to lose. The man took his moment and scored two goals against Messi's Argentina to take the game to extra time. He scored his penalty too but sadly it was not enough for his team. He could not have done more though.
This is how the story of how a Burnley loan player scored two goals in a World Cup Quarterfinal and almost ended Lionel Messi's international career.
41-45, M
