Cody Gakpo and Virgil van Dijk both started as the Netherlands beat Lithuania 4-0 to book their place at the World Cup, with a goal, an assist and an all-time record broken.
The Netherlands only had to avoid defeat to mathematically confirm their spot at the 2026 World Cup, but they sealed qualification with an emphatic victory.
Gakpo and Van Dijk both started in Amsterdam while Ryan Gravenberch was named on the bench – the Liverpool midfielder rested entirely in a boost to his club.
Van Dijk played his 72nd game as captain of his country, breaking Frank de Boer’s all-time record for the most times wearing the armband in Dutch history.
Man City midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, who started in place of Gravenberch, opened the scoring after just 16 minutes, sending the hosts into half-time 1-0 up.
Gakpo then made it 2-0 from the penalty spot after a handball in the box, before assisting Xavi Simons for another two minutes later.
Donyell Malen rounded off the scoring just after the hour mark, with Ronald Koeman’s side seeing out a 4-0 victory and celebrating their progress to next summer’s tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
How the Dutch media rated Van Dijk and Gakpo
After criticism following the 1-1 draw with Poland on Friday, the verdict among the Dutch press was more positive this time around.
AD‘s Johan Inan rated Van Dijk a seven out of 10, explaining that he “showed why” he was trusted as his country’s all-time most-capped captain.
Gakpo meanwhile received a 7.5 out of 10, after “constantly posing a threat and guaranteeing results” throughout the World Cup qualifying campaign.
Former Netherlands midfielder Jan Peters gave his ratings for De Telegraaf, with Van Dijk deemed a six out of 10 and Gakpo a 6.5 out of 10.
“Gakpo is important, but he needs to find more variety in his actions,” Peters wrote, in a familiar assessment of Liverpool’s No. 18.
“You get the feeling that he wants to cut inside every ball to shoot at goal or deliver a cross to the far post. He also has to play a one-two sometimes.
“But then again, Arjen Robben did it that way. Everyone knew what he was going to do, and yet it often paid off. That’s the same with Gakpo.”
Voetbalzone‘s Rian Rosendaal gave Van Dijk a seven out of 10 and Gakpo an 8.5 out of 10 – as the best player on the night.
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