Cody Gakpo wrote his name into Dutch football history on Thursday night, becoming the first Netherlands player since Rob Rensenbrink in 1978 to score two penalties in a single match as the Oranje thrashed Malta 4-0 in a World Cup qualifier. The Liverpool forward converted from the spot twice and also assisted Tijjani Reijnders, leading the Netherlands to a comfortable victory in World Cup qualifying.
Ronald Koeman has outlined his plans for the Netherlands’ upcoming World Cup qualifier against minnows Malta. The former Barcelona head coach confirmed that Memphis Depay, the Oranje’s all-time leading scorer, will not be in contention to start after arriving late to the national team’s training camp. The ex-Manchester United forward reported that his passport was stolen while in Brazil, causing a delay in his travel.
Former Wolfsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt forward Bas Dost has hung up his boots at 36 after a terrifying on-pitch collapse in 2023. The Dutchman described his difficult recovery from heart inflammation as "maddening" and revealed a "dramatic" setback that he called a "slap in the face" following his unsuccessful attempts to continue his career.
Spain are attempting to lure Club Brugge prospect Samuel Gomez van Hoogen into pledging his international future to La Roja, despite competition from Belgium and Netherlands. The 19-year-old centre-back, who holds three passports, has yet to make a senior debut in official competition and could follow the same path as Dean Huijsen.
Legendary Dutch football figure Louis van Gaal has revealed that he is no longer affected by cancer following a period of successful medical treatment. The 73-year-old, known for his outspoken personality and managerial excellence across Europe, gave an optimistic health update during his appearance on Dutch television.
Netherlands
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