Kees Kist enjoyed Cody Gakpo’s game on Thursday evening. The former goal-getter was allowed to join the Dutch national team on behalf of The Telegraph against Poland and saw the 23-year-old attacker as one of the two stars in the 0-2 victory. Gakpo played behind the strikers, a position where he is not normally drafted at his club PSV. Kist advises – without mentioning their names – national coach Louis van Gaal and PSV coach Ruud van Nistelrooij to learn a lesson from the duel with Poland.
Gakpo made the opening goal on Thursday in the capacity of shadow striker after thirteen minutes of play. Kist also liked his further game (especially before half time). “I think Cody is a big surprise behind the strikers. If he can continue to play there a few more times, it will do him a lot of good. The goal he scored was perfect for a beautiful attack. He was there at the right time. He has speed and creates pressure forward. With him in that position, the the Dutch can make it difficult for many opponents,” said the former striker, who assesses Gakpo with a 7.5.
Goal! Or rather: a great goal! ?? The man in blood form taps the ball in after a formidable attack and so the the Dutch is ahead within fifteen minutes.#POLNED pic.twitter.com/k48owE6o0N
— NOS Football (@NOS Football) September 22, 2022
Kist saw a Gakpo that he does not get to see in a club. “At PSV I have seen him play too often on the left and there he does too little work. Then he has to wait for the balls he gets. Now he can decide for himself how often he is involved in the game.” Kist is a bit more critical of the striker duo that Gakpo was behind. “He does show character and perseverance”, he starts about Memphis, “but he is not really in the role that we know of him from the Dutch. That has to do with his situation at Barcelona.” Like Memphis, Steven Bergwijn is rated with a 6, and according to Kist ‘couldn’t leave his mark’.
Gakpo played his eighth international match as an A-international on Thursday evening and scored his third goal. Without even having played one game for the the Dutch, ex-national coach Frank de Boer took him to the European Championship last summer, where he was allowed to make his debut in the group match with North Macedonia. Gakpo also seems to be able to count on a base place against Belgium on Sunday, as main competitor Steven Berghuis suffered a back injury from the duel with Poland.
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