Liverpool, one of Europe’s major teams, had a large number of players representing their respective countries in Euro 2024.
A total of ten Reds players traveled to Germany for the tournament, with seven still competing after the last 16.
England’s Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez will prepare for a quarter-final match against Switzerland, who upset Italy last time out.
Meanwhile, Diogo Jota’s Portugal will compete against Ibrahima Konate’s France for a position in the Euro 2024 semifinals.
The last three Liverpool players at the tournament are all from the Netherlands, and they will face Turkey in the final eight.
Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo excels in the Netherlands’ defeat of Romania.
Virgil van Dijk captained the Oranje in a 3-0 victory over Romania, in which Cody Gakpo scored and assisted.
The Liverpool forward was a continuous thorn in Romania’s side, opening the scoring in the first half by cutting in from the left and blasting into the bottom corner.
Gakpo then came close to scoring a second, prompting an outstanding save following a driving run.
The Reds ace was unlucky to have a goal ruled out by VAR, but he added another goal by assisting Donyell Malen’s second of the game.
Gakpo impressed BBC Sport analysts Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer, who praised him before and after the game.
“It was a really good goal by Cody Gakpo,” Shearer said BBC One following the Liverpool player’s opening.
“The way he moves the ball fast gives the defender little time to reposition his feet.
“The goalkeeper should perform a better job, but the early move and shot are what beat him. It’s a very good strike.”
Later, Lineker commented live on BBC One (2/7/24, 7:02pm): “A brilliant performance from him. I believed he was the standout player. “I got Man of the Match.”
Shearer responded: “He was a threat throughout the game, whether he was on the left side going back inside. He received an assist as well. Yes, he was fantastic.”
Gakpo’s heroics will please Slot.
Gakpo has been in and out of the Liverpool starting lineup since his transfer to Anfield, but that could alter next season.
His heroics for the Netherlands in Euro 2024 will undoubtedly please Slot, both as a fellow Dutchman and as his future manager.
Furthermore, discussions between Liverpool and Anthony Gordon did not result in a transfer before June 30, and Newcastle no longer has a pressing need to sell him.
