Image Credits: Imago Images
The Netherlands’ World Cup journey came to a painful, familiar end in Monterrey on Monday night.
Ronald Koeman’s side were knocked out in the Round of 32 by Morocco, losing 3-2 on penalties after a dramatic 1-1 draw that swung on late drama and spot-kick nerve.
Cody Gakpo had seemingly fired Oranje into the last 16 with a composed finish in the 72nd minute, only for Issa Diop to level in stoppage time and force extra time
With neither side able to find a winner over 120 minutes, the tie went to a shootout where Yassine Bounou’s save from Crysencio Summerville and Ismael Saibari’s penalty condemned the Dutch to yet another World Cup exit via penalties.
Liverpool trio of Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo, and Ryan Gravenberch were all given middling ratings in the defeat:
Voetbal Primeur gave the Dutch captain a 6.5 out of 10 and wrote:
“In the attrition battle between the Netherlands and Morocco, Van Dijk was the leader ‘we’ needed for a long time. The captain had his affairs in order, coached continuously (can anyone do better?) and radiated that the Orange would not fall over. Yet things went wrong. Van Dijk did not get off scot-free at the late 1-1. He did not take a penalty, after his miss four years ago against Argentina.”
Ryan Gravenberch got a 6.5, with it being noted that he was too “introverted” and did not have as much influence on proceedings as he would have liked:
“As always, Gravenberch played with his head, but this time maybe a little too much. On the ball, he often saw the right solution, but he remained too introverted. The Dutch need more guts and dominance from him to become world champions.”
Cody Gakpo likewise got a 6.5 despite scoring the opening goal having only come on a second-half substitute:
“Goosebumps, goosebumps and more goosebumps. Gakpo was not in the game for seventy minutes, which will have had everything to do with the loss of his unborn son Elijah Raphael. And then he scored. Joy and sorrow fought for precedence. It had to be Gakpo. In extra time, he was substituted with cramp.”
For Liverpool, though, there is at least a small silver lining amid the disappointment. Van Dijk, Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch will now be spared the physical and emotional toll of a deep World Cup run, giving them time to rest up properly before reporting back for pre-season at Kirkby.
With Oranje’s campaign over earlier than hoped, the Reds’ Dutch trio should be able to join the squad in good shape and potentially a little sooner than expected for the USA tour