Netherlands’ Gakpo wary of Isak threat

Cody Gakpo has warned the Netherlands must keep a close eye on his Liverpool team-mate Alexander Isak when they face Sweden in Saturday’s crucial Group F encounter.

Having twice been pegged back in a 2-2 draw with Japan on matchday one of the World Cup, Ronald Koeman’s team are off the pace, with Sweden routing Tunisia 5-1.

The Opta supercomputer still makes the Oranje favourites to top the group, but only with a 40% chance, and a defeat in Houston would extinguish those hopes.

Anything less than three points could leave the Netherlands scrapping for a place in the last 32. They currently suffer a group-stage exit in only 10% of scenarios, advancing in 90%.

And Gakpo knows they must be alert to the threat posed by Isak, who scored one goal and assisted two on matchday one.

His three goal involvements at this tournament are already as many as any Sweden player has managed at a single World Cup since Henrik Larsson in 2002 (three goals), after his first campaign at Anfield was disrupted by a leg fracture that sidelined him for over four months. 

“We were very happy that he returned and at ‌the end [of the season] he was fit, he scored ⁠some goals and he ‌played well,” Gakpo said of Isak.

“And then, obviously, he started the tournament very well with his performance. I think everybody knows how good a player he is. We need to look out for him.”

With the Netherlands failing to make a winning start in a difficult group, Gakpo knows they now have little margin for error, adding: “We know that we have ‌to win the games because we want to go through the group stage. 

“Obviously the result for Sweden was very good for them, but we have to see that separately and just focus on ourselves, on what we can improve.”

The Netherlands have drawn their last two World Cup games, both by a 2-2 scoreline (also versus Argentina in 2022, losing on penalties in the quarter-finals). 

They have only failed to win three successive matches at the competition on one previous occasion, going five without a victory between 1978 and 1990.

“In the end, we were disappointed. We were ahead twice, and then you want to win the game,” Gakpo said, reflecting on the Japan game. 

“We have to admit that Japan were a good, tough team and that they made good use of their chances. But there was certainly disappointment for us.

“In the small spaces, Japan defended very disciplined. It may be the same against Sweden, but their organisation is probably slightly different. 

“We’re going to analyse that tomorrow and then make a plan to create a lot of chances.”