The Netherlands are through to the knockout stages of Euro 2024 but only after a fairly mixed group stage performance in Germany.
Ronald Koeman’s side weren’t really one of the top favourites for Euro 2024, but they certainly have players who can cause problems in a knockout situation.
The group stage has been a real mixed bag for Koeman and co having snatched a late winner whilst coming from behind to beat Poland 2-1.
The Netherlands then drew 0-0 with France and can feel somewhat hard done by having had a goal controversially disallowed.
Tuesday saw the Dutch side take on Austria, but they slipped to a 3-2 defeat with some terrible defending on show.
That means the Netherland have finished third in Group D, qualifying for the knockout stages as one of the best third-placed teams in the competition.
Dutch press on Cody Gakpo
The Netherlands can certainly cause problems in the knockout stages.
Centre back Virgil van Dijk is one of the best in the Premier League and Liverpool teammate Cody Gakpo tends to turn it on in major tournaments.
Gakpo scored three times for the Netherlands at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and now has now scored twice in three group stage games at Euro 2024.
Gakpo brought his side level against Austria with a superb curling finish but it wasn’t enough to claim points from the game.
The Dutch media have now offered their view on Gakpo’s performance against Austria with some mixed reviews.
Voetbalzone handed Gakpo a six out of 10 rating, praising his finish for the goal but suggesting that he ‘did not pay attention’ off the ball as Romano Schmid put Austria ahead.
Gakpo was marking Schmid but saw the Austrian break free to head Austria back in front at 2-1.
“It was also very difficult for Cody Gakpo to make a difference against the stubborn Austrians. The Liverpool attacker mainly tried to make runs inwards from the left. This did not yield much return for the Dutch team. After the break, everything was different. Gakpo put the Dutch team at 1-1 a minute after the restart with a beautiful curling ball into the right corner. After an hour of play, however, Gakpo did not pay attention, allowing Romano Schmid to head in freely,” they wrote.
Voetbal Primeur also went with a six out of 10 rating, suggesting that he was able to ‘create some danger’ in the final third unlike many of his teammates.
“Didn’t do much wrong in the first half, unlike the rest. After the break he made it 1-1 for the Dutch team with a very nice and typical Gakpo shot. He lost his man for a moment with the second Austrian goal, but Gakpo was one of the few on this evening who managed to create some danger here and there,” they wrote.
FC Update continued the trend of six out of 10 ratings, with Dutch coaching legend Foppe de Haan feeling that Gakpo was ‘too static’ for large spells of the game.
“Also scored a fantastic goal, at a very nice moment, right after half-time. But I thought he was much less active than usual, he was much too static. There are moments like that, when he stands stiffly against the line. Then you are just not free, the full-back was four or five meters away from him. He was not enterprising enough, especially in the first half. He was a bit more dominant in the second half,” said De Haan.
A big season awaits at Liverpool for Gakpo
Gakpo clearly has talent but his hot-and-cold nature has become a little frustrating.
Just as capable of moments of magic as he is of disappearing from the game, Gakpo needs to find consistency and impact games on a regular basis.
16 goals and six assists in all competitions last season was a decent return for Gakpo but eight of those goals came in the Europa League and EFL Cup.
More Premier League goals will be needed and Liverpool will be hoping that the appointment of fellow Dutchman Arne Slot can help unlock Gakpo’s full potential.
Now 18 months removed from his move to Anfield – which cost Liverpool £37million rising to £44million – Gakpo needs to really kick on next season and prove that he can be a Liverpool star for years to come rather than just a player who can help in fits and starts.
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