Cody Gakpo scored twice and assisted once for the Netherlands as they beat Sweden at the World Cup, with the Liverpool winger reminding new coach Andoni Iraola what he can do
09:21, 21 Jun 2026
Cody Gakpo starred for the Netherlands against Sweden.
Cody Gakpo starred for the Netherlands against Sweden.(Image: ANP via Getty Images)
Cody Gakpo may have struggled for Liverpool in the season just gone, but he is off to a flyer at the World Cup. The 27-year-old forward scored twice and assisted once in a big win over Sweden yesterday.
"It’s a little bit different," Gakpo said when he was asked post-match to explain how he is able to perform to such a high level in a Dutch shirt. "How I play here, where the coach wants me to be, the freedom that I have at the club," he added. "That’s it basically."
After his brace in Houston, Texas, only six players have ever scored more goals for the Netherlands at a World Cup, with the record — seven goals from Johnny Rep — just two away.
The Dutch media can be very harsh, but it was satisfied here — both with the Netherlands as a whole, and star man Gakpo.
"Graham Potter worked briefly with the substitute at West Ham United in the Premier League before being let go by the club management in London," AD noted.
"And so Potter could hardly have been surprised when Crysencio Summerville smoothly set up the 3-0.
"The attacker turned skillfully, found the overlapping Denzel Dumfries, and Gakpo was able to simply tap it in from two meters. Not much later, the speedy Summerville was involved in a goal again. He launched Gakpo, who applied his specialty: cutting inside and shooting with his right foot."
Cody Gakpo and Virgil van Dijk during the Netherlands vs Sweden at the World Cup.
Cody Gakpo and Virgil van Dijk during the Netherlands vs Sweden at the World Cup.(Image: ANP via Getty Images)
On Gakpo specifically, it added: "Oranje's top scorer at the last major tournament has risen again. Gakpo did so immediately with a fine pass to Brobbey and good moves on the outside. In the second half, the goals followed.
"For the 3-0, he was alert to tap in Dumfries' cross at the far post. The 4-0 was more beautiful. Gakpo broke free and beat the poor Swedish goalkeeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt with a hard shot into the near corner.
"After a tough year at Liverpool, Oranje's golden boy is hitting his stride again. Just in time."
AD gave Gakpo an 8/10 (Ryan Gravenberch got a 7.5), and the forward received the same rating from Football Oranje too, with the Dutch site saying: "Two goals and an assist for the winger, who looked at his best once again in Oranje. On this type of form, he is hard to stop."
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Finally, De Telegraaf was pleased with Brian Brobbey's influence on the game. He was the man whom Gakpo set up for the early opener that set the tone.
"Ronald Koeman's plan proved to be correct," it said, with Brobbey coming into the starting XI and making an instant impact. "The 1-0 after six minutes was not only a picture, but also textbook.
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"Bart Verbruggen played a long ball to Brobbey, who got rid of Isak Hien as if he weren't there and, with a simple flick of his foot, delivered the ball to Tijjani Reijnders, who had positioned himself well beneath him. Reijnders' pass to Cody Gakpo enabled the left winger to deliver the assist to the onrushing Brobbey."