Cody Gakpo Fell Into 'Similar Traps' and the World Cup Just Got Harder

Whoa, hold up. The World Cup just kicked off, and already we're seeing some wild stuff go down! Over in Dallas, Netherlands and Japan slugged it out to a 2-2 draw, which is a shocker in itself. But what's got everyone buzzing, especially after such a 'subdued' performance, is Liverpool's own Cody Gakpo. Dude was supposed to be a major force, but his country's first match didn't exactly scream "superstar on the rise," you know?

Gakpo's Predictable Play Raising Eyebrows

Look, we all bleed for our teams, and when a player you expect greatness from hits a wall, it’s frustrating. BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty didn't mince words about Gakpo's showing against Japan. He called the 27-year-old's match 'subdued' and said his play 'descended into predictability'. Ouch. Apparently, his tendency to cut inside was 'easily detected' by the Japanese defense, with Gakpo falling into 'similar traps' that plagued him during the 2025/26 season. You gotta be able to mix it up, especially on the world stage, or defenses will just eat you alive. There were some positives to his display, according to the figures, but his attacking lacked precision, particularly in the first half, as the Oranje struggled to move the ball quickly against a compact defense.

Baffling Decisions From Ronald Koeman Did Not Help

Now, while Gakpo needs to step up, McNulty did cut him some slack. He argued the forward 'was arguably not helped' by some seriously head-scratching decisions from Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman. Imagine your coach making a 'surprise decision' to field Micky van de Ven, usually a center-back, at left-back. Van de Ven offered 'little' support on the flank, which couldn't have made Gakpo's job any easier. And get this: Koeman pulled Ryan Gravenberch late in the game for a defender, Nathan Ake. That move totally 'backfired', inviting Japan to push forward, and guess what? They conceded a late equalizer to Daichi Kamada! You can’t make these kinds of tactical blunders in the World Cup, it just kills your momentum.

So, what now for Gakpo and the Oranje? Netherlands faces Sweden next, and that game just got a whole lot tougher after Alexander Isak and his crew absolutely 'walloped Tunisia 5-1' overnight. Will Gakpo keep his spot? And if he does, Liverpool and Oranje supporters are going to be demanding a whole lot more from him throughout the rest of the World Cup. It's go time, folks. No more 'subdued' performances!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.