UEFA make Cody Gakpo decision as Ruud van Nistelrooy makes Liverpool point Arne Slot can’t ignore

Liverpool striker Cody Gakpo has been stripped of his winning goal for Holland in their win over Turkiye.

Ronald Koeman’s side came from behind to book their place in the Euro 2024 semi-final thanks to Stefan De Vrij and a Mert Muldur own-goal, which Gakpo played a key role in. Oranje were left stunned on the stroke of half-time after going behind to Samet Akaydin’s header at the back post.

Vincenzo Montella’s side has lived up to their dark horse’s tag during the tournament after taking the competition by storm. Real Madrid starlet Arda Guler has been among the standout players from the squad as they progressed through Group F, consisting of Portugal, Georgia and Czechia before beating Austria in the Round of 16.

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Liverpool duo Virgil van Dijk and Gakpo will now turn their attention to Wednesday’s semi-final against England, where they will lock horns with club teammates Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez.

Gakpo has been in fine form throughout the tournament for Koeman, scoring three times in the tournament, and he was denied a fourth – which would’ve made him the outright top goalscorer.

The former PSV Eindhoven captain got on the wrong side of Muldur and forced the error as his clearance squirmed into the back of the net from the challenge of Gakpo.

Despite the Liverpool forward wheeling away and being mobbed by his teammates, UEFA decided that the goal would be ruled as a Turkish own-goal. On the website in their live blog, they wrote: “The Netherlands have turned it around! The Oranje build on their momentum, Dumfries fizzing a low ball across the area to the far post.

“Gakpo and Mert Müldür both look to make the vital contact on the ball, with the final touch coming off the Türkiye defender.”

Gary Neville said: “He looks sharp Gakpo. There were times for Liverpool, where you wondered… he played deeper or more central and I went to see Ruud van Nistelrooy 12 to 18 months ago and he said Gakpo’s definitely a left-sided forward – that’s been proven in this tournament. That was a really good run at the far post.”