Netherlands 5-1 Sweden: Gakpo joins exclusive group as Liverpool forward makes statement after Victor Munoz signing

Cody Gakpo sent a reminder to Liverpool astir his attacking endowment with a brace successful the Netherlands' 5-1 demolition of Sweden.

Gakpo's presumption astatine Liverpool has been enactment nether menace pursuing the quality that Spain planetary Victor Munoz volition articulation the nine this summer.

However, Gakpo sent a connection to caller Liverpool brag Andoni Iraola with a beardown show successful Houston, netting a brace to assistance occurrence his state to their archetypal triumph of the 2026 World Cup.

Netherlands 5-1 Sweden: What conscionable happened?

The Netherlands would person been underwhelmed with their 2-2 gully against Japan connected matchday one, but immoderate negatives from that effect were soon forgotten arsenic they outclassed Sweden astatine the Houston Stadium.

Sunderland's Brian Brobbey starred successful the archetypal period, netting a brace wrong the opening 17 minutes arsenic helium produced an all-round striker's performance, utilizing his spot to disrupt the Swedish backline and his nous to bring his teammates into play.

Gakpo past took implicit the spotlight successful the 2nd period, tapping successful from Denzel Dumfries's debased shot earlier driving a near-post changeable past Kristoffer Nordfeldt to articulation Brobbey successful registering a brace.

An Anthony Elanga effort could not dampen the Netherlands' celebratory mood, particularly arsenic Crysencio Summerville restored the sizeable four-goal pb successful the closing stages of the contest. 

Netherlands 5-1 Sweden: The large talking point

Gakpo endured a hard 2025-26 run with Liverpool, mustering 9 goals and six assists successful 52 competitory appearances.

But helium reminded his nine successful this show that helium inactive possesses the endowment and mentality to execute connected the grandest of stages.

Iraola would person surely taken enactment of Gakpo's 2nd goal, which saw him neatly chop wrong onto his favoured close ft and nutrient an close decorativeness with pace. 

Gakpo gives Liverpool nutrient for thought aft Munoz signing: The bigger picture

Liverpool's determination to enlistee Victor Munoz has undoubtedly formed uncertainty implicit Gakpo's aboriginal astatine the club.

However, this show suggests Gakpo is much than susceptible of holding disconnected Munoz's situation for the left-wing spot.

There is besides the anticipation that a assured Gakpo could thrive successful Iraola's high-intensity, attacking system.

That said, Liverpool whitethorn besides presumption a show similar this arsenic a large accidental to bid a bigger interest if clubs amusement involvement successful Gakpo this summer.  

Key stat

The Reds guardant joined an exclusive nine with his show for Ronald Koeman's charges, becoming conscionable the 4th Dutch subordinate to people aggregate goals astatine 2 antithetic men's World Cups, pursuing successful the footsteps of Johnny Rep, Dennis Bergkamp and Arjen Robben. 

Prior to the brace against Sweden, Gakpo antecedently scored successful each of the Netherlands' 3 radical games astatine the 2022 tournament.

What happens next?

The Netherlands are present successful an incredibly beardown presumption to scope the Round of 32, and they volition beryllium looking to assertion a triumph that could spot them beforehand arsenic radical winners erstwhile they look Tunisia connected matchday three.

Meanwhile, Sweden are successful 2nd spot for the clip being, but they volition consciousness they request to adhd a constituent from their upcoming crippled against Japan to scope the knockout rounds.