Georginio Wijnaldum was one of the stars on the side of the Dutch national team in the Nations League match with Bosnia and Herzegovina (3-1) on Sunday with two goals. There was a lot of talk before and afterwards about the role of the number ten who played the Liverpool midfielder. Wijnaldum himself was not very concerned with the new role that national coach Frank de Boer had in mind for him.

“I think that is more a matter of the media,” Wijnaldum said on Tuesday afternoon with a smile at the press conference prior to Wednesday evening’s away game against Poland. “Of course everyone has their favorite position. But I was not so concerned with it, I must say.” The midfielder acknowledges that the return in the current role is a lot higher. “It’s a bit easier, because you get into the penalty area a bit more often. So it’s a bit easier to score goals.”

“In a position behind it, you are more concerned with control”, Wijnaldum continues his analysis of his contribution to the midfield of Orange. “Then you don’t get into the penalty area that often. Now I could get into the ‘sixteen’. If I’m in a position where I’m in the box can come, I can score goals. I am not a natural finisher, but I am a player who can create opportunities. I always knew that about myself. I can score goals and hope to make even more “, said Wijnaldum, who is in the shirt of Orange after 20 goals in 62 international matches last Sunday.” More than me “, De Boer jokes, who himself ended with thirteen international hits.

After his hits against Bosnia and Herzegovina, the thirty-year-old Orange International paid tribute to Virgil van Dijk with his way of cheering, who is currently not available for the Dutch national team due to a serious knee injury. “That was certainly a tribute”, Wijnaldum refers to the gesture with the hands. “I also have quite a lot of contact with Virgil, although it is not always about football. He was happy with my gesture and also liked it. he is doing well, “said Wijnaldum.