According to Spanish outlet AS, Netherlands international Georginio Wijnaldum has admitted that the intense criticism he received after his performance in the group stage match against Austria left him feeling overwhelmed and forced him to cut off from the internet to regain his composure.
“This has been the toughest week of my career,” Wijnaldum said after coming on as a substitute in the Round of 16 match against Romania, where he was brought on in the 69th minute.
“It’s a shame we have to wait so long for the next match, but I’m eager to prove myself. It was great to hear the fans chant my name when I came on.” The PSV midfielder expressed his feelings.
Wijnaldum’s performance against Austria was heavily scrutinized, and he was substituted off in the 34th minute by Koeman. His subpar performance garnered global attention, with photos of him crying becoming the focus of media coverage. The harsh criticism from journalists and former players was relentless, putting immense pressure on him.
Wijnaldum lamented, “I had to switch off the internet because the criticism was so intense.”
The Netherlands team quickly acted to provide mental support to the young player. Seen as a potential replacement for Kroos, Wijnaldum had been carrying the weight of high expectations to fill De Jong’s shoes in the national team, leading to mental imbalances during the game. His teammates offered comfort, despite their shared disappointment over the result.
“The coach called me the next day and told me to relax and get back to training. The first two days were really tough, but things started to get better afterwards,” Wijnaldum shared his journey.
Key figures in the dressing room, like Van Dijk and Ake, publicly defended Wijnaldum during the Friday press conference, believing the external commentary was overly harsh.
“I’m through it now. Usually, I’m not that sensitive, but this time I decided to stay away from the internet,” Wijnaldum said with a slight smile, addressing the speculation about his national team career being over.
“We’re helping him until he can adjust himself. Even though he might have had a bad game, his talent is undeniable,” teammate De Vrij expressed his firm support for Wijnaldum.
A week ago, the Dutch national team seemed shrouded in gloom, but the sky has cleared since the victory over Romania. Through these events, Wijnaldum has not only learned how to manage external pressure but has also gained a deeper understanding of the camaraderie and trust within his team, laying a solid foundation for future challenges.
This article is from a user submission and does not represent the views of Soccer News Pick. If you repost it, please indicate the source: https://www.soccernewspick.com/uefa-european-championship/5497.html
