Gakpo back to his best! Liverpool ace stars in Scotland rout
A Liverpool standout excels in a left-wing position as the Netherlands convincingly defeat Scotland 4-0 in a noteworthy warm-up match ahead of Euro 2024.
Liverpool's Cody Gakpo regained his form by providing two assists as the Netherlands secured a dominant 4-0 victory over a struggling Scotland team at the Johan Cruyff Arena.
Match Report
The Netherlands displayed an impressive performance in their Euro 2024 warm-up match on Friday evening, comfortably defeating Scotland. Cody Gakpo notably stood out during the game.
Despite Scotland's strong start, with Ryan Christie's header nearly opening the scoring, goalkeeper Mark Flekken's save denied them as he tipped the effort onto the bar. However, the hosts took the lead just before halftime with a remarkable goal from Tijjani Reijnders, who struck from nearly 25 yards out.
In a back-and-forth encounter, Scotland's Angus Gunn made a superb save to deny Memphis Depay shortly after halftime, while Flekken also made a crucial save from John McGinn's powerful shot moments later. Cody Gakpo threatened with a fierce shot that Gunn stretched to keep out, and Scotland missed a chance to equalize through Lawrence Shankland, who hit the bar when through on goal.
The Dutch extended their lead in the 72nd minute when Georginio Wijnaldum headed in Gakpo's excellent cross. Wout Weghorst added another goal with a header after Scott McTominay's misjudged jump in the 84th minute, and Donyell Malen sealed the victory with a close-range finish just over a minute later.
Match Video Highlight
The MVP
In recent weeks, Cody Gakpo has faced criticism for his performances at Liverpool. However, it could be argued that he has not been deployed in his preferred position for the Reds, specifically on the left wing.
Against Scotland, Gakpo, who is known for his versatility as a forward, demonstrated his threat from that flank, suggesting that Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp should take note of his capabilities in that role.
Conclusion
While Scotland manager Steve Clarke may have been satisfied with his team's performance for the initial hour of the match, his substitutions, made shortly before and after the Netherlands' second goal, seemed to exacerbate the situation for the visitors. As a result, Scotland's players struggled to cope with the increasing pressure from the home side, leading to a decline in their performance.
In contrast, Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman made astute substitutions that bolstered his team's performance and contributed to their victory. With this win under their belt, Koeman's side will conclude their international fixtures with a highly anticipated clash against rivals Germany on Tuesday.
On the other hand, Clarke's Scotland will face Northern Ireland on the same day. It will be crucial for Clarke to reassess his tactics and lineup to ensure a more favorable outcome for Scotland in their upcoming match.
