Euro 2024 Qualifiers: Wout Weghorst Keeps Netherlands On Course As Ireland Stumble

Wout Weghorst kept the Netherlands on course for Euro 2024 as he came off the bench to bag the decisive goal in his side's 2-1 win against the Republic of Ireland on Sunday. Ronald Koeman's team suffered an early shock when Adam Idah's penalty put Ireland ahead in Dublin in their Group B game. But Liverpool's Cody Gakpo netted a penalty soon after and the visitors wrapped up the points thanks to Weghorst's second half strike.

Currently on loan at German side Hoffenheim from Premier League club Burnley, the towering Weghorst's introduction at the interval proved a masterstroke by Koeman.

Weghorst had scored in the victory against Greece on Thursday and he showed no signs of sulking despite being initially left on the bench at the Aviva Stadium.

A third win from their four Group B matches lifted the Netherlands into second place, six points behind leaders France with a game in hand.

The top two will qualify for next year's European Championship in Germany and Koeman's men are in control of their own destiny.

They have a game in hand on third placed Greece, who are level on points with the Dutch, and sit six points ahead of Ireland.

Beaten in four of their five matches, Stephen Kenny's hosts look certain to miss out on a place at the Euros.

After failed bids to reach the Euros two years ago and last year's World Cup, it is shaping up to be another grim qualification campaign for the Irish.

- 'Not my decision' -
"To beat one of the best teams in Europe you have to see out those difficult periods and we didn't do that for the second goal," the under-fire Kenny said.

"We've got two matches in October and after that it's certainly not my decision (to remain manager). We'll have to see if we have a play-off. There's still a