"People should just enjoy themselves" - Wesley Sneijder hits out at claims comparing Liverpool star with Netherlands legend Arjen Robben
Former Netherlands star Wesley Sneijder has poured cold water on comparisons between Arjen Robben and Cody Gakpo, claiming that both are different players.
Gakpo has emerged as the next big Dutchman after a good 2023-24 season with Liverpool followed by a stellar individual campaign with the Oranje at Euro 2024. In fact, he is among the six players who won the Golden Boot at the championship, with three goals to his name.
In contrast to his position with Liverpool where he has mainly played through the middle, Gakpo was used in wide areas with the Netherlands. The deployment saw him often cutting in from the left flank, drawing comparisons with Dutch legend Arjen Robben.
The former Bayern Munich ace was known for his trademark runs from the flank before cutting inside to score or make an assist - but from the right.
Sneijder, however, wasn't impressed with the comparisons, and was quick to dismiss them.
He said (on Soccer News via Liverpool.com):
“I don’t understand it because they are two completely different players. Why do you have to compare them? It’s a different time. Other things are desired. People should stop making comparisons. People should just enjoy themselves."
Sneijder and Robben played together for the Netherlands' national team and both were a key part of the Oranje squad that reached the 2010 FIFA World Cup final. They also shared the dressing room at Real Madrid between 2007 and 2009.
Cody Gakpo joins Netherlands legends after winning Euro 2024 Golden Boot
The Netherlands made their best finish at the Euros in 20 years by reaching the semi-finals, and much of that is down to Cody Gakpo. The Liverpool ace netted thrice and made one assist too as he carried his club form onto the international stage.
In the process of netting three goals at the tournament, he also won the Euro 2024 Golden Boot, shared along with five other players. He also joined three Dutch legends that won the prize before him at the European championships.
Marco van Basten was the first Dutchman to win the Golden Boot back in 1988 when he struck five times. Four years later, Denis Bergkamp followed suit, netting thrice, although he shared it with three other players. In 2000, Patrick Kluivert also won the Euro's Golden Boot with five goals, shared alongside Serbia and Montenegro's Savo Milosevic.