Gakpo Shines on the Left Wing as Netherlands Triumph Over Poland
In their Euro 2024 clash against Poland, the Netherlands emerged victorious with a 2-1 win, thanks in part to an outstanding performance from Cody Gakpo on the left wing. Manager Ronald Koeman made the decision to field two out of Liverpool’s three players in the Netherlands squad, opting to leave Ryan Gravenberch on the bench.
The defensive partnership of Virgil van Dijk and Stefan de Vrij proved to be a solid choice, with de Vrij beating out competition from Matthijs de Ligt and Micky van de Ven to secure his starting spot. Meanwhile, Denzel Dumfries got the nod over Lutsharel Geertruida at right-back.
From the start, Gakpo proved to be a constant threat for the Netherlands, causing problems for the Polish defense and creating numerous chances for his teammates, particularly Memphis Depay. Gakpo came close to scoring early on with a drilled shot towards the near post. He also had a golden opportunity from close range but failed to convert.
Despite the Netherlands’ dominance, it was Poland who took the lead through Adam Buksa’s header from a Piotr Zielinski corner. The Netherlands almost immediately responded with a well-struck volley from Van Dijk, but it was too close to the goalkeeper.
The Netherlands’ persistence paid off in the 29th minute when Gakpo’s long-range shot took a wicked deflection, beating Poland’s goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny. With the scoreline still level at 1-1, Koeman brought on Liverpool’s Gini Wijnaldum in the 62nd minute to inject more Red influence into the game.
In the 80th minute, Gakpo and Depay made way for Wout Weghorst and Jeremie Frimpong. It didn’t take long for Weghorst to make an impact, scoring just two minutes after coming on. With Gakpo impressing on the left wing, Liverpool supporters were excited about his potential for the upcoming season.
Fans and analysts alike praised Gakpo’s performance, with many highlighting his natural ability and effectiveness when played in his preferred position on the left. They expressed confidence in his abilities and predicted a successful season ahead for him at Liverpool.
Looking ahead, the Netherlands face a tough match against France at RB Leipzig’s Red Bull Arena. They will come up against Ibrahima Konate, should he be selected to start. The match is scheduled for 8pm BST on June 21.