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Wout Weghorst has confirmed that the Netherlands’ impressive free-kick routine to score against Argentina at the World Cup was his idea. Before joining Manchester United on loan in January, Weghorst made international headlines for his dramatic late equalizer against eventual tournament winners Argentina in the World Cup quarter-final in Qatar.

Argentina led comfortably 2-0 in that game, but substitute Weghorst scored in the 83rd minute to make the game 2-1 before tying it up deep in stoppage time, thanks to an innovative free-kick routine.

The short free-kick routine, which allowed Weghorst to receive the ball in the box, stunned Argentina and the game ultimately called for penalties to decide the match, which seemed highly unlikely before Weghorst entered the field.

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Weghorst has now discussed that memorable World Cup goal and revealed that the free kick routine was actually his idea.

“Actually, it all started (practicing the free kick routine) when we got together for the World Cup,” Weghorst told MOTDx. “It was my idea because we had done it with Wolfsburg, during my time in Germany, that’s why we did it the first time.

“It was quite successful. A minute before we had another free kick, which made it possible, but we didn’t do the routine and a minute later, I was also fouled and I said ‘ok, time to do it’.

“I told the guys, I showed them, we did the positions how we wanted, with two inside.”

The reporter also commented on Weghorst holding down defenders and jokingly blamed Frenkie de Jong: “Yes, because Frenkie didn’t do his job. He had to block him, but until the second down, we weren’t sure if we should or not.

“Even me, I was still looking at it all the time. I expected him to do it and it was amazing.”

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