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Netherlands forward Cody Gakpo has warned his national team to be wary of his Liverpool club teammate Alexander Isak when the "Oranje" face Sweden in their second Group F match of the 2026 World Cup.
“We were very happy that he returned and was finally fit, scored a few goals, and played well. And obviously, he started the tournament very well with his performance,” Gakpo stated.
Isak was instrumental in Sweden's dominant 5-1 victory over Tunisia, providing two assists and scoring a goal himself.
“I think everyone is aware of how good a player he is. So, we need to be careful. We know what we need to do and how to win our matches, because our task is to get through the group stage as quickly and painlessly as possible. Obviously, the result was very good for them, but we need to look at the match separately and focus only on ourselves, on what we can improve,” the 27-year-old forward commented.
He further added that a victory is more important and necessary for them, especially after their 2-2 draw against Japan in their opening fixture. However, Gakpo emphasized that there is no pressure on the Dutch squad, and they are preparing to stop a confident Swedish team, led by Isak and Gyökeres in attack. The Netherlands will clash with Sweden in Houston on Saturday, while Tunisia and Japan will meet in Monterrey later the same day.
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