NewsEuro 2024: Cody Gakpo scores as Netherlands produce comeback win

Liverpool teammate and club captain Virgil van Dijk led out his country for their opening game of Group D in Hamburg, completing the full match in the centre of defence.

However, after dominating early possession, it was Poland who opened the scoring against the run of play in minute 16 via the head of Adam Buksa following Piotr Zielinski’s corner ball.

But the Netherlands restored parity quickly just before the half-hour mark as Gakpo took the ball in his stride to drive on and strike goalwards from outside the area.

His effort took a deflection, which left Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny wrong-footed and unable to halt his shot.

After the half-time interval, the Dutch pushed on in search of a winner and went close through Denzel Dumfries and Xavi Simons.

Poland, though, grew into the game and were posing a threat of their own in the opposite box, with goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen called into action on a number of occasions.

Gakpo was taken off nine minutes from time with the tie seemingly heading for a draw, but substitute Wout Weghorst provided the decisive intervention in the 83rd minute, finding space in the area to shoot low into the bottom corner and earn the spoils for his nation.

“I think it was a tough match, [they are] a tough opponent,” Gakpo told UEFA post-match. “They are well organised and obviously they scored first so it was a little bit more difficult.

“I think we created a lot of good opportunities and good chances, but we have to be more clinical. Overall, I think we performed really well against them.

“It was a tough match but in the end we won so that’s good.”

He added: “We are a team that never gives up. We have good substitutes and that’s what you saw today. I think we changed the whole front line and they came in and performed very well so that’s a strength for us as well.”

Reds midfielder Ryan Gravenberch was an unused substitute for the Netherlands on the afternoon.

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