Cody Gakpo's Faith and Unity as Netherlands Prepare for Sweden

Cody Gakpo leans on faith as Netherlands brace for Sweden test

In the thick Texan heat and under the weight of expectation, Cody Gakpo says the Netherlands are holding themselves together with something you can’t measure on a stats sheet: faith.

The Dutch forward revealed that a Christian prayer group inside Ronald Koeman’s squad has become a quiet pillar of unity as they prepare for a must-win World Cup clash against Group F leaders Sweden in Houston on Saturday.

“We have high hopes for ourselves,” Gakpo said at the team’s base in Kansas City, the tone firm rather than fanciful. “We feel that we have a good group, and at the end we have to show it on the pitch and obviously go through in the group stage, and then push on.”

Faith, cohesion and a growing circle

The Netherlands have little margin for error after a 2-2 draw with Japan in their opener in Arlington, Texas – a result that immediately cranked up the pressure on a nation that has finished runners-up three times on the biggest stage.

Inside that tension, Gakpo described a core of 11 or 12 players who regularly come together to pray, talk and reset.

“We often end up in conversations in which we talk about faith and I'm often one of those who leads the prayer,” he explained. “But everyone has their own role and their own contribution.”

The group, he says, is expanding. More faces, more voices, more buy-in.

“I think the group of guys is getting bigger and bigger. And I think it also brings a certain cohesion, of course,” the 27-year-old added. “Also outside of football, obviously, to get along well with each other. But also just to give each other strength, in moments like these when we really have to be there for each other.

“And that we can form a unity together. Not only on the pitch, but also outside it.”

For a squad under scrutiny and chasing rhythm, that kind of inner circle matters. Results will define them, but the foundations are being laid behind closed doors.

Sweden’s firepower and a familiar threat

Waiting for them in Houston is a Sweden side that looks anything but forgiving. Under Graham Potter, the Scandinavians opened their campaign by dismantling Tunisia 5-1, with their attack already purring.

Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres lead that line, a blend of movement, power and ruthless finishing that has pushed Sweden to the front of the group.

Gakpo knows one of those threats all too well. Isak is his teammate at Liverpool, a “special player” in his words, and a forward the Dutch cannot afford to lose sight of.

Isak’s first season at Anfield was ravaged by an ankle injury that included a fibula fracture, a brutal interruption after a big-money move from Newcastle. But he fought back to fitness late in the campaign, found goals, found form – and has carried that sharpness into the tournament.

“Special player, and we were very happy that he returned from injury,” Gakpo said. “At the end, I think he was fit, he scored some goals, and he played well.

“And obviously he started the tournament very well with his performance. And I think everybody knows how good a player he is, so we have to look out for him.”

The Netherlands’ back line will have seen the clips. They will know the runs, the angles, the finishes. Knowing is one thing; stopping him, under World Cup pressure, is another.

Leaving Liverpool’s struggles behind

For Gakpo, this World Cup is also a chance to step out of the shadow of a bruising club season. Liverpool’s campaign ended with the sacking of manager Arne Slot, a turbulent period that few at Anfield will cherish.

“Last season at Liverpool is not something a lot of people want to look back on, I think, unfortunately,” he admitted. “But that's just football as well. And we just have to move on. Here it's obviously a completely different environment, it's a completely different team.”

That reset is crucial. With the national side, Gakpo is not carrying the weight of a broken club campaign; he is part of a group trying to rediscover the edge and clarity that have historically defined Dutch tournament runs.

Now comes the real test. Sweden are flying, the Dutch are chasing, and the group table leaves little room for missteps. The tactics will matter, the duels will matter, the details in both boxes will decide it.

But for Gakpo and a growing band of teammates, the preparation starts in a quieter space – in prayer, in conversation, in the belief that unity forged off the pitch can carry them through the storm on it.