Gakpo Leads Netherlands in Stellar Rebuttal to Media Skepticism

The Dutch team effortlessly advanced to the quarter-finals at Euro 2024, obliterating Romania with a decisive 3-0 victory in Munich.

Cody Gakpo addressed the critiques from the press vividly as the Netherlands secured a spot in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024.

Gakpo ignited the scoreboard, leading to a clear 3-0 victory for the Oranje during the intense last-16 contest on Tuesday. Donyell Malen, as a substitute, contributed significantly by netting two additional goals later in the game.

The Liverpool striker has impressively tallied six goals over the past two significant tournaments, surpassed only by Kylian Mbappe’s nine goals among Europeans during the same period spanning the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024.

Moreover, Gakpo joins the elite list, alongside Johnny Rep and Dennis Bergkamp, as one of only three Dutch players to score three or more goals in two distinct tournaments.

Persistent media scrutiny followed the Netherlands after a lackluster third-place group finish. Gakpo recognized the urgency for a robust reply.

“This match was precisely the response we owed,” Gakpo commented. “We displayed potent offense, solid tact, and overall, we delivered quality football,” he added.

“Indeed, we have room for improvement, but today marked a significant progression. We felt dominant, notwithstanding the threats posed by our competent adversaries. We never doubted our grip on the match.”

Virgil van Dijk, whose earlier performances had been criticized, expressed pride in the team’s robust comeback that Tuesday.

“Our defense was unyielding. We conceded little and could have significantly increased our score,” Van Dijk stated. “Following a week full of speculation and discussion, it was crucial for us to demonstrate our capabilities, and we certainly did. We took our criticisms to heart, knowing we needed a substantial improvement from our previous outing.

“Everyone committed fully, claimed key interceptions, and seized their opportunities. Today, our skillful play bolstered our confidence,” he concluded.

For the first time since 2004, when they outlasted Sweden in a nail-biting penalty shootout, the Netherlands have advanced past a European Championship knockout match.

Setting aside the tiebreakers, their latest triumph marks the first in a direct knockout scenario since their 6-1 trouncing of Yugoslavia in 2000, still the largest victory margin seen at this contest.