The Netherlands sealed their place in the last eight of Euro 2024 with a 3-0 win over Romania and one man was at the centre of it all; man of the match winner Cody Gakpo.

This is the first time in 16 years the Netherlands have reached the quarter-finals of the Euros, as Gakpo’s performance and two goals from substitute Donyell Malen helped them past Romania.

What a goal by Cody Gakpo!!! 😲#BBCEuros #Euro2024 #ROUNED pic.twitter.com/bqLnTHvvvI

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 2, 2024

The 25-year-old Liverpool forward was everywhere for the Dutch side putting in an impressive performance both off the ball and on it, contributing the opening goal and an assist for the second.

In total he had four shots on goal and 10 touches in the opposition’s box and had a goal disallowed for offside by the narrowest of margins. Gakpo was in complete control of the game for a Netherlands side that completely dominated Romania.

Today’s performance took his goal tally at the Euros to three, equaling the three goals he scored at the 2022 World Cup and joining Georgia’s Georges Mikautadze, Slovakia’s Ivan Schranz and Germany’s Jamal Musiala at the top of the golden boot race, with the former two’s nations now out of the competition.

⚽ 3 goals
🎁 1 assist

Cody Gakpo has been putting on a show at the Euros 🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/dzvcw89vyn

— B/R Football (@brfootball) July 2, 2024

Some players shine on the international stage and Gakpo seems to be developing into one of those players.

His performance also bodes well for his status in the Liverpool side ahead of the 2024-25 season. Fellow Dutch international Arne Slot will have surely been watching on and seeing Gakpo’s performance should leave him thinking what he can do to get this level of Gakpo in the Premier League.

Overall it was a much deserved victory for the Netherlands and a perfect performance by Gakpo, who will now face either Austria or Turkiye in an 8pm BST kick-off on Saturday 6th of July.