1. When Opportunity Met the Biggest Stage
Cody Gakpo arrived in Qatar carrying questions, not guarantees. The Netherlands had pedigree, structure, and the tactical mind of Louis van Gaal—but they lacked a ruthless edge. With their talisman Memphis Depay struggling for fitness, the Oranje were searching for a hero.
Gakpo, prolific at PSV Eindhoven but untested at the elite international level, was viewed as a "maybe." A talented wildcard. A player for the future.
Three group games later, the future had arrived.
With every driving run, every clinical finish, and every intelligent movement between the lines, Gakpo didn't just participate in the World Cup; he grabbed it by the scruff of the neck. In a team famous for "Total Football," he provided "Total Efficiency." The tournament didn't just showcase him. It accelerated him.
2. Before Qatar: Talent Without Certainty
Pre-Tournament Expectations
Despite dominating the Eredivisie, doubts lingered about whether Gakpo could translate his domestic form to the World Cup stage. Louis van Gaal's system was a rigid 3-4-1-2 (or 5-3-2), a setup that didn't naturally fit Gakpo's preferred left-wing role.
He was entering a crowded room. Steven Bergwijn, Vincent Janssen, and a recovering Memphis Depay were all vying for attacking spots. Gakpo was expected to contribute minutes, perhaps as an impact sub or a rotational starter.
He was not expected to carry the nation. That changed within 84 minutes of the opening match.
3. Why Cody Gakpo Became Essential
The Netherlands' early performances were often sluggish and methodical. They controlled possession but lacked the vertical "bite" to hurt low blocks. They needed a player who could turn safe possession into dangerous action instantly.
Gakpo became the solution because he offered:
- Versatility: He adapted seamlessly from a winger to a central split-striker or a #10, solving Van Gaal's tactical puzzle.
- Clinical Efficiency: He didn't need five chances to score. He needed one.
- Ball Carrying: In a team of passers, Gakpo was a carrier, driving the ball 30-40 yards to break defensive lines.
Once he scored the winner against Senegal, the hierarchy shifted. The Dutch didn't just include Gakpo in the plan—they built the attack around him.
4. Style of Play: Direct, Intelligent, Efficient
Ball Progression & Movement
Gakpo's greatest asset in Qatar was his ability to receive the ball in "the hole" (the space between midfield and defense) and turn.
The "Half-Turn": He consistently received the ball on the half-turn, allowing him to drive immediately at terrifying speeds toward the penalty area.
"Unlike traditional target men, Gakpo drifted wide to overload flanks before darting centrally, making him a nightmare for center-backs to track."— Tactical Note
Pressing Intelligence
He wasn't a chaotic presser; he was a smart one.
- Shadow Cover: Gakpo used his frame to block passing lanes into midfield, forcing opponents wide where the Dutch wing-backs were waiting.
- Transition Threat: By conserving energy defensively, he retained the explosive power needed for those trademark counter-attacking sprints.
Minimal Heatmap Insight
Heatmap Style: Unlike his club heatmap (hugging the left touchline), his World Cup heatmap was a central vertical column with drifts into the left half-space. It showed a player operating in the most dangerous zones of the pitch, right in front of the goal.
5. Match Impact: How the Netherlands Changed With Gakpo
Netherlands vs Senegal – The Icebreaker
The game was a stalemate. 0–0 in the 84th minute. The Netherlands looked toothless. Then, a moment of bravery. Frenkie de Jong floated a ball into the box. Gakpo timed his run perfectly, beating goalkeeper Édouard Mendy to the ball and heading it home.
Impact: He broke the tension. The goal proved he could deliver when the pressure was highest.
Netherlands vs Ecuador – The Rocket
Gakpo didn't wait this time. In the 6th minute, he received the ball on the edge of the box and unleashed a thunderous left-footed drive into the near post.
Squad Balance Shift: With Gakpo scoring early, the Dutch could sit deeper and play on the counter—a strategy Van Gaal preferred. Gakpo's goal allowed the system to work.
Netherlands vs Qatar – The History Maker
By the third game, Gakpo was playing with supreme confidence. He scored again, this time with his right foot, becoming the first Dutch player to score in his first three World Cup matches.
Group Stage Stats
- Goals: 3
- Shots on Target: 3
- Conversion Rate: 100% (Ruthless efficiency)
6. Key Moments That Defined His Tournament
- ⚽ Header vs Senegal: Showed aerial bravery and timing.
- 🚀 Left-Foot vs Ecuador: Proved he could score with his "weaker" foot from distance.
- 🎯 Right-Foot vs Qatar: Completed the "perfect hat-trick" of group stage goals (Header, Left, Right).
"Gakpo didn't explode in one singular flash. He accumulated authority with a terrifying consistency that few players in the world possess."
7. Knockout Reality: The Quarterfinal Lesson
Against Argentina, the space vanished. Gakpo was tightly marshalled by Romero and Otamendi. While he didn't score, his work rate in the penalty shootout loss showed his maturity. He fought, he tracked back, and he held up the ball.
It was the final step of a breakout journey: proving he could battle in the trenches against the eventual world champions.
From Prospect to Liverpool Star
When the World Cup ended, Gakpo was no longer just a PSV talent. He was a global commodity.
- Status: Joint top scorer of the group stage.
- Perception: The most consistent attacker for a major European nation.
- Result: A high-profile transfer to Liverpool FC followed almost immediately in January 2023.
The phrase "Cody Gakpo World Cup 2022" became shorthand for a player who seized his moment. The tournament didn't inflate his reputation—it clarified it.
Why Cody Gakpo Was a True Breakout Star
Breakout stars are often defined by flair. Gakpo was defined by product.
- He scored the first goal when the team was struggling (Senegal).
- He offered verticality when the possession was slow.
- He balanced individual threat with intense tactical discipline.
He didn't need to touch the ball 100 times to dominate a match. He just needed to touch it once in the box.
8. Legacy: How Qatar 2022 Changed Cody Gakpo Forever
World Cups separate the good from the great. For Cody Gakpo, Qatar 2022 was the bridge between those two worlds.
He left the Middle East as a reliable scorer on the biggest stage, a tactically adaptable forward, and a man ready for the Premier League. Years from now, his career arc will trace back to this winter in Qatar—where opportunity met execution, and potential finally became reality.
Cody Gakpo didn't announce himself loudly. He let the goals do the talking.
