July 7th 2024.
Cody Gakpo has been dominating the headlines in the world of football lately, as he leads the Golden Boot race for Euro 2024. It seems that England will have to keep a close eye on the Netherlands star, as he is in top form ahead of their highly anticipated semi-final clash.
Gary Neville, who is a former Manchester United and England defender, shared his thoughts on Gakpo's impressive performance so far in the tournament. He believes that the 25-year-old is looking sharp and has been crucial in leading his team to the last four. England and the Netherlands both secured their spots in the semi-finals on Saturday, after defeating Switzerland and Turkey respectively.
The Dutch team has been relying heavily on Gakpo's talents, as he is currently tied with three other players for the top scorer position. However, what sets him apart is that he is the only one still in the tournament. This is quite surprising, considering that Gakpo had a bit of a lackluster season with his club, Liverpool. Despite struggling to adapt to Jurgen Klopp's tactics, he still managed to score 16 goals and provide 6 assists in 53 games.
But it seems that Gakpo has always thrived while playing for his national team. Neville shared that he had a conversation with former United and Dutch legend Ruud van Nistelrooy about Gakpo's playing style. Van Nistelrooy, who previously worked closely with Gakpo at PSV, believes that the best position for him is on the left side of the forward line. And his performance in this tournament has proven just that, with his impressive run from the back post leading to the winning goal against Turkey.
As the Netherlands currently lead Turkey 2-1, Gakpo will face some familiar opponents from the Premier League when he meets England on Wednesday night. He is looking forward to the challenge and believes that it will be a good game between two strong teams. When asked about England's underwhelming performances in this tournament, he responded that the most important thing is to win, which is exactly what both teams have been doing.
Gakpo's versatility and goal-scoring abilities caught the attention of Liverpool, who splashed out £35.5 million to secure his services in January 2023. However, under new manager Arne Slot, it will be interesting to see where he will fit in the team's lineup. No matter where he plays, Gakpo is ready to face any challenge and help his team come out on top.
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