Cody Gakpo don warn say Netherlands must keep close eye on Liverpool teammate Alexander Isak when dem face Sweden for Saturday crucial Group F encounter.
After dem draw 2-2 with Japan for matchday one of World Cup, Ronald Koeman team no dey pace. Sweden don rout Tunisia 5-1.
Opta supercomputer still favour Oranje to top group, but only 40% chance. If dem lose for Houston, dat hope go disappear.
Anything less than three points fit leave Netherlands dey struggle for place for last 32. Currently dem dey suffer group-stage exit for only 10% of scenarios, dey advance for 90%.
Gakpo know dem must alert to threat wey Isak pose. Di striker score one goal and assist two for matchday one. His three goal involvements for dis tournament already be as many as any Sweden player don manage for single World Cup since Henrik Larsson for 2002, wen he score three goals.
Isak first campaign at Anfield don disrupt by leg fracture wey sideline am for over four months. Gakpo talk: “We were very happy dat he returned and at di end of di season he was fit, he score some goals and he play well. And den obviously he start di tournament very well with his performance. I tink everybody know how good a player he be. We need to look out for am.”
With Netherlands no make winning start for difficult group, Gakpo know dem get small margin for error. He add: “We know dat we get to win di games because we want to go through di group stage. Obviously di result for Sweden was very good for dem, but we get to see dat separately and just focus on ourselves, on wetin we fit improve.”
Netherlands don draw dem last two World Cup games, both by 2-2 scoreline, including against Argentina for 2022 wey dem lose on penalties for quarter-finals. Dem only fail to win three successive matches at di competition on one previous occasion, going five without victory between 1978 and 1990.
Gakpo reflect on Japan game: “For di end, we were disappointed. We were ahead twice, and den you want to win di game. We get to admit dat Japan were a good, tough team and dat dem make good use of dem chances. But der was certainly disappointment for us. For di small spaces, Japan defend very disciplined. E fit be di same against Sweden, but dem organisation probably slightly different. We go analyse dat tomorrow and den make a plan to create plenty chances.”
