Cody Gakpo is on a sizzling streak in terms of targets for membership and nation and he added one other to his tally on Saturday night time, although he did so after slightly penalty spot squabble.
Gakpo has six targets in his final 5 outings for Liverpool and the Netherlands mixed, together with his newest strike coming in a 4-0 win over Dominik Szoboszlai‘s Hungary.
The sport was overshadowed by a scary medical emergency which noticed Hungary’s assistant coach Adam Szalai require instant consideration earlier than being taken to hospital.
Hungary determined to proceed enjoying, and Virgil van Dijk had some stylish phrases to say about that, however the Netherlands have been simply too sturdy on the night time with 4 unanswered targets.
Wout Weghorst scored the primary from the penalty spot simply moments after play restarted following the emergency, with Gakpo, Denzel Dumfries and Teun Koopmeiners additionally getting on the scoresheet.
Gakpo’s aim got here from the second penalty on the night time after Donyell Malen was impeded, although many had anticipated the Netherlands’ designated taker, Weghorst, to line up for his second.
It was a well-taken spot kick, and Gakpo’s celebration was way more in step with the temper of the event after what had occurred early within the match on Hungary’s bench.
Supervisor Ronald Koeman confirmed his penalty pecking order after the sport however famous how he instructed his captain, Van Dijk, to “resolve” who took it as Gakpo and Weghorst ‘fought’ for the ball.
“Nicely, as a result of we took penalties and it was Virgil, Wout and Cody (designated kickers). So then I additionally stated: ‘Primary for the penalty is Wout’,” Koeman stated.
2 – Wout Weghorst and Cody Gakpo are the primary @OnsOranje gamers to transform a penalty inside the similar match (excluding shootouts) since Jan Klijnjan and Dick Schneider towards Peru on 3 Could 1972. Spot. pic.twitter.com/wgBXzZnucz
— OptaJohan (@OptaJohan) November 16, 2024
“Solely then a second penalty got here and I didn’t see it effectively. However I feel I noticed that Wout was arguing with Cody about who would take that penalty.
“I shouted [at] Virgil: ‘You resolve who takes it’. And ultimately, Cody took it.
“As a result of they’ll each take a penalty effectively, however it by no means appears as enjoyable and exquisite and good when two gamers combat about it.”
Gakpo most likely saved Weghorst from extra criticism had he finished one other overzealous celebration, he later instructed ESPN: “Wout needed to take the primary one, so I believed: ‘I’ll take the second’.” Honest play!
It was one other sturdy night time for Liverpool’s Dutch trio and all, fortunately, got here via unscathed, with Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch enjoying 79 minutes whereas Van Dijk performed the total 90.
The 4-0 win booked the Netherlands their spot within the quarter-finals of the Nations League, whereas Hungary will end third of their group regardless of what occurs towards Germany on Tuesday.
