Netherlands' forward #11 Cody Gakpo celebrates after succesfully converting a penalty to score the Netherlands's first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G qualification football between Malta and Netherlands at the National Stadium in Ta' Qali, on October 9, 2025.

Netherlands stays above Poland, Finland after thumping Malta

ALBERTO PIZZOLI / AFP / Getty

Cody Gakpo inspired the Netherlands to a 4-0 win in Malta during Thursday's World Cup qualifiers.

Liverpool's Gakpo converted two spot-kicks either side of the break and set up Manchester City midfielder Tijjani Reijnders for the Netherlands' third goal, with Memphis Depay also netting late on.

A fourth win in five matches for Ronald Koeman's side leaves them top of Group G on 13 points, three clear of second-placed Poland.

Finland sit third - also on 10 points, albeit having played one match more than the Dutch and Polish - after a 2-1 win at home to Lithuania.

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