In the first round of Group D matches at the Euros, Gakpo equalized, and Wijnaldum scored the winner as a substitute, securing a 2-1 comeback victory for the Netherlands over Poland. After the match, Wijnaldum spoke to the media.
“It’s indescribable, I’m incredibly happy; it’s like a dream scenario for me,” he said. “Before the game, we already had a great feeling, but we all knew that getting off to a good start was crucial.”
During the preparations for the Euros, Wijnaldum had already been informed by national team coach Ronald Koeman about his role, which was not as the first-choice striker. He shared, “I told my girlfriend this morning: We’ll equalize with 20 minutes left, and then I’ll come on. It happened a bit later than expected, but you see the ball coming in and then you score. That’s why you work hard when you’re a kid. Now our absolute ultimate goal is to make history in this Euro tournament.”