Potter: They hurt us in the wide areas
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Obviously really disappointed, with the result. Difficult one to analyse, we did some good things in the game, attacks, but defensively you cannot expect to concede that many and win the game.
They hurt us in the wide areas. First goal was from a long ball forward that we didn’t deal with very well.
Second part of the first half I thought we were the better team but then we conceded just after half time.
FT: Netherlands 5 Sweden 1
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Ronald Koeman was too cautious they said, so what better way to respond than putting five goals past Sweden in a win that puts Netherlands in a strong position to win the group with Tunisia to follow. They were clinical in front of goal, and their delivery from wide areas was the theme of their first three goals. Gakpo, Brobbey and Dumfries were the outstanding performers.
Sweden could have scored another couple of goals but they never looked stable defensively.
93 minutes: Netherlands 5 Sweden 1
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There is going to be a late stoppage because Summerville was caught in the head by the knee of a Sweden defender. Physios called on quickly to give some treatment at the side of the pitch.
90 minutes: Netherlands 5 Sweden 1
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Just the five minutes of added time to play, which will come as a relief to Sweden.
GOOOALLL! Summerville makes it five
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Summerville has made his point after Koeman made the harsh decision to start him on the bench. Like Gakpo’s second goal, it is a really well-controlled finish from outside the box, picking out the far corner. Netherlands have been ruthless.
88 minutes: Netherlands 4 Sweden 1
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Netherlands defend well with Gravenberch but Elanga really should have taken on the shot rather than passing after he was found by Gyokeres. Sweden have had their chances.
85 minutes: Netherlands 4 Sweden 1
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Isak tries to whip one into the top corner from just outside the box, but Verbruggen pushes the ball around the post. Good strike but a comfortable enough save. Zeneli then takes on a shot from distance, straight down the goalkeeper’s throat.
83 minutes: Netherlands 4 Sweden 1
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Gyokeres’ link-up play at Arsenal was identified as a major weakness in his game, but he has excelled in this game receiving the ball to feet. This time he releases Elanga down the right, but his cross is wayward.
80 minutes: Netherlands 4 Sweden 1
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Bergvall the latest Sweden player booked, for catching Gakpo on the shin with his studs. No serious force in the challenge. Netherlands can see the finish line now.
78 minutes: Netherlands 4 Sweden 1
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The hydration break worked in Sweden’s favour in the first half, but it has allowed Netherlands to restore calm again. Isak with a menacing cross into the six-yard box, Van Hecke stuck out a leg, before Gyokeres turned down the chance to take on an overhead kick from six yards out.
74 minutes: Netherlands 4 Sweden 1
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Gyokeres penalised for a push on Van de Ven, before Ayari takes a heavy touch and is robbed by Van Dijk. Still frustrated, Ayari is booked for dragging back Gravenberch.
72 minutes: Netherlands 4 Sweden 1
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Time for another Netherlands sub: Memphis Depay replaces Brian Brobbey. And play resumes after the hydration break.
68 minutes: Netherlands 4 Sweden 1
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Elanga with a tremendous piece of skill, poking the ball through the legs of Van de Ven, but Van Hecke was well-position to head clear. Gudmundsson then feeds a cross through the six-yard box.
Time for the second hydration break. More loud boos, before the stadium DJ turns up the volume on Mr Brightside.
66 minutes: Netherlands 4 Sweden 1
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Isak and Elanga exchanging pass in the Netherlands penalty area, looking dangerous, but Isak lifts his cross over everyone who is waiting in the penalty area. Koeman has made a couple more changes: Koopmeiners and Til on for De Jong and Reijnders.
64 minutes: Netherlands 4 Sweden 1
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Brobbey rolls Hein in the box again, and the Dutch have a corner. Cleared by Sweden, but Brobbey has had a stormer of a game. Has to stay in the team now, though it is difficult to second-guess Koeman’s decisions.
62 minutes: Netherlands 4 Sweden 1
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Netherlands have started this second half as they did the first and two quick strikes for Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo has put this game out of reach for Potter’s Sweden. It is now damage limitation for Sweden, who won’t want to further erase their goal difference they earned against Tunisia.
“Wij houden van Oranje” (Dutch version of Auld Lang Syne) pumps through the stadium once more – it’s party time for the 75 per cent of the stadium in orange.
GOOOALL! Elanga pulls one back for Sweden
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The winger had only been on for a few minutes, joining Isak and Gyokeres in attack, but that is a great run in behind and finish from Elanga. His pace was not in question, but he showed impressive composure to lift the ball over Verbruggen with his left foot.
57 minutes: Netherlands 4 Sweden 0
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Ayari with a shot from distance, not too far over the bar, before Gravenberch tries his luck from range but he gets underneath it.
GOOOAALLL! Gakpo makes it four
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The Dutch are cutting Sweden to ribbons, the directness and trickery is too much for him. This move started with Isak giving the ball away cheaply higher up the pitch, Summerville carried it forward, before Gakpo drilled a shot into the near corner from just outside the box.
54 minutes: Netherlands 3 Sweden 0
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Gudmundsson booked for tripping Summerville, who looks as lively as he did against Japan. The West Ham winger has been linked with a move to Manchester United this summer.
52 minutes: Netherlands 3 Sweden 0
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Van Hecke with an important defensive header, Sweden continue to push forward. Netherlands have not been completely convincing from a defensive perspective, but surely Sweden have given themselves too much work to do.
49 minutes: Netherlands 3 Sweden 0
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Sweden have had their chances throughout the game, but they have not been able to cope defensively. Netherlands’s attacking patterns have been really clear, working the ball wide for low crosses and cutbacks.
GOOOALLL! Koeman’s change works a treat
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The second goal the Dutch have scored from a low cross from the right. Summerville finds Dumfries on the overlap, and he passes the ball across the six-yard box for Gakpo to score a tap in at the back post. Brobbey was sliding in and was close to scoring his hat-trick. Sweden have struggled to deal with those deliveries all game.
Half-time change by Koeman
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Summerville replaces Malen. Fresh legs down the right for the Netherlands, where they were dangerous in the first half.
An action-packed half of football
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Phew! I think everyone needs a break after a frantic end to that first half. 10 shots for Sweden to Netherlands seven, but they have not found the net just yet, except for the disallowed goal. Bart Verbruggen might need to take up boxing after this, the number of punches he’s been throwing. Brian Brobbey on a hat-trick at half-time... who had that on their bingo card?
HT: Netherlands 2 Sweden 0
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A peculiar half of football. Netherlands were well worth their two-goal lead after a very impressive first 20 minutes, one of the best team performances on the tournament until that point. The game changed after the hydration break though, and Sweden could easily have scored at least one themselves. Gyokeres and Isak are both playing well, and proving difficult to contain. The pause in the game offered Potter the chance to switch to a back four.
45+4 minutes: Netherlands 2 Sweden 0
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Another save from Verbruggen! This time Gyokeres teed up Ayari, and his low strike was sneaking in the near corner. The goalkeeper had to push it around the post.
45+3 minutes: Netherlands 2 Sweden 0
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Sweden win a free-kick in a shooting position, Gyokeres with a nifty flick around the corner, and Ayari is the player fouled. Left of centre, around 20 yards out.
Gyokeres to take... and Verbruggen saves! The goalkeeper stayed on his side of the goal as Gyokeres tried to deceive him. Clean strike, but not close enough to the corner.
45 minutes: Netherlands 2 Sweden 0
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Sweden thought they have pulled one back from the free-kick but somewhat belatedly Lagerbielke was flagged offside. Cracking delivery and the defender was there before Verbruggen to score a glancing header.
Four minutes of added time to play.
43 minutes: Netherlands 2 Sweden 0
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Dumfries pushing forward to good effect again, but Sweden are relieved that his cross deflects through to the goalkeeper. Great driving run up the pitch from Gudmundsson to win Sweden a free-kick in a crossing position. Must have carried the ball some 40 or 50 yards.
41 minutes: Netherlands 2 Sweden 0
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Malen wins the ball in a dangerous position, but he neither shoots at goal nor picks out Brobbey or Gakpo with a low cross. The ball trickles beyond the far post.
Isak causes problems between the lines again, turning and finding Ayari but his shot from the edge of the box flies over the bar.
39 minutes: Netherlands 2 Sweden 0
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Gakpo chops inside from the right and shoots from 25 yards but it is straight at the goalkeeper. Netherlands need to restore some of their earlier control, the next goal carries huge weight in the game.
37 minutes: Netherlands 2 Sweden 0
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The pattern of the game has changed completely since the hydration break. Sweden starting to move the ball incisively and the two strikers are combining. Isak feeds Gyokeres, and his first-time shot with his right instep is beaten away by Verbruggen.
33 minutes: Netherlands 2 Sweden 0
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Isak collects the ball in a promising pocket of space centrally, and he picks out the darting run of Gyokeres into the box. The striker could not get the ball out of his feet for a shot and Van Hecke recovered. Perhaps there was not enough weight on the pass.
30 minutes: Netherlands 2 Sweden 0
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Much better from Sweden, but Ayari wastes the chance after a swift counter-attack. Isak started it with a nice pice of control, releasing Gyokeres in the left channel. Ayari, scorer of two against Tunisia, was free in the middle and Gyokeres played a superb left-footed pass, lofted some 30 yards straight to Ayari. He tried to chest the ball down though and he lost the chance, it was there for a first-time header.
27 minutes: Netherlands 2 Sweden 0
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We are back under way after the hydration break, and Sweden have won a corner. Ayari with one of his only touches in the final third so far to win it.
Danger! Corner flicked on at the near post and Kalstrom volleyed towards goal, but he hit his own captain Viktor Lindelof in the face. Sums up Sweden’s night so far.
22 minutes: Netherlands 2 Sweden 0
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There is no sign of Netherlands’ dominating easing. Sweden pushed back into their penalty area. They do get some respite via the first hydration break of the game. Loud boos from both sets of fans, before some music drowns them out.
19 minutes: Netherlands 2 Sweden 0
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Koeman has been accused of being too cautious but this opening spell has been classical Dutch football: high pressing, heaps of possession, one midfield conductor behind two more offensive players and wingers wide on the touchline. A very impressive response.
GOOOALLL! Brobbey scores his second
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Sweden in all kinds of trouble now, but this is the stuff of dreams for Brobbey. Denzel Dumfries’ delivery from the right tends to be excellent, and Brobbey dashes across the near post to get a feint touch on his low cross. The contact is enough to direct the ball beyond Nordfelt into the far corner.
The Netherlands attack tears through Sweden once again with Brobbey scoring another. Sweden need to take some deep breaths or this could be a over by half-time. Fair play to Netherlands, who have bounced back from their disappointing Japan draw in the best way in the opening 20 minutes here.
15 minutes: Netherlands 1 Sweden 0
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Reijnders and Gravenberch are very advanced, repeatedly on the edge of Sweden’s box which tells you everything you need to know about the flow of the game. The ball has gone flat, so Michael Oliver calls for a new one.
13 minutes: Netherlands 1 Sweden 0
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Dumfries whips a delightful cross across the face of Sweden’s goal, which almost ran through for Gakpo at the back post. Gyokeres heads the corner away at the near post. So much height in the Dutch team, they are a serious set-piece threat.
10 minutes: Netherlands 1 Sweden 0
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Hien is no lightweight at the back for Sweden, but Brobbey is causing him all manner of problems so far. The defender keeps trying to go tight, but Brobbey keeps pinning and rolling, just as we have seen all season at Sunderland. Hien might be better off keeping an arm in his back and staying a yard. Malen stands up a cross from the right, Gakpo heads down to the goalkeeper Nordfelt. Netherlands looking slick so far.
8 minutes: Netherlands 1 Sweden 0
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Shortly after Brobbey’s goal, Gyokeres tests Verbruggen from a tight angle and the goalkeeper has to stretch out a leg to save. Sweden try a short corner but they are flagged offside. Open start to the game.
GOOOALL! Brobbey with a terrific striker’s goal
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Eyebrows were raised when the Dutch team sheet showed no Summerville in the team, but Brian Brobbey has just justified his selection. It was a long clip forward from the goalkeeper Verbruggen, the big striker backed into Hien and flicked the ball into the path of Reijnders. He fed Gakpo who was free on the left, and his low ball across the six-yard box set up Brobbey for a tap-in. Lovely move.
Koeman’s change pays off : Bringing in Brobbey to the starting XI, who gives Netherlands an early lead. A beautifully worked goal and the Sunderland man sends the huge wave of orange here into mayhem. What a start in Houston.
4 minutes: Netherlands 0 Sweden 0
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Van Dijk steps up to play Gyokeres offside, but he has to wait for the flag to go up. The Netherlands captain and the bench not too pleased by the delay. Hien defends well against Gravenberch, using his body to shepherd the ball behind. Different look to the Dutch attack today with Brobbey in the centre-forward role rather than Malen, they can hit his chest and look for runners off the No 9.
2 minutes: Netherlands 0 Sweden 0
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First sign of attacking intent comes from the Dutch, with Malen bursting inside from the right flank and Reijnders almost breaking into the box from midfield. Then Isak wins a foul against Van Hecke, who is sporting a bit of a black eye.
KICK OFF!
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There are orange shirts everywhere, Sweden supporters outnumbered. Netherlands get the game started.
The two teams are out
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Based on performances in qualifying and strength across the pitch, Netherlands have to be considered favourites but there is something about them that fails to convince.
A Premier League flavour to the game
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There is plenty of the Premier League representation today, with 13 of the 22 starters currently playing their club football in England’s top flight – eight from the Netherlands and five from Sweden.
It continues on the touchline, with Sweden boss Graham Potter no stranger to English football, and Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman also has experience in the league.
Not to mention Premier League referee Michael Oliver is the man in charge of proceedings today.
The stadium awash with colour
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The crowd is filling up here in Houston, with a sea of fluorescent orange and bright yellow lighting up the stadium. The supporters are adding the colour today, making up for the lack of sunshine (but definitely not lack of heat!) here in Texas. Surely the most colourful stadium of the tournament with these two sets of fan colours?
Both teams going through their warm ups
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The fixture in which the Cruyff turn was born
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Though if you watched ITV’s World Cup coverage last night you will know there are some revisionists in that particular field of football history. According to Ange Postecoglou, Australia believe Adrian “Noddy” Alston did the trick at the same tournament five days earlier than Cruyff.
Koeman asked about his team sitting on a lead against Japan
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I accept criticism towards me. It’s not an issue.
I took my decision because I spoke with my staff. I also made clear what I did want to change. We should have pressed more, high on the pitch, and we were not able to do that. We want to convey this message to the players.
Dutch fans marching to the stadium
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The sea of orange shirts bouncing and dancing their way to the stadium is one of the sights of any tournament. Such is the size of the crowd, it is more of a shuffle than a march. A Haarlem shuffle, if you like.
Netherlands team news: Koeman benches Summerville
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Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey starts instead of the winger, which means Malen or Gakpo will switch to the right flank. After Summerville’s goal against Japan, that is a surprising call from Koeman.
Netherlands XI: Verbruggen, Dumfries, van Dijk, van Hecke, van de Ven, Gravenberch, de Jong, Reijnders, Malen, Brobbey, Gakpo
Subs: Flekken, Roefs, Ake, Geertruida, Hato, Kluivert, Koopmeiners, Lang, Depay, de Roon, Summerville, Til, Weghorst, Wieffer
Sweden team news: Potters names unchanged XI
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The former Brighton and Chelsea manager sticks with the 3-4-1-2 system that allows him to play Isak and Gyokeres together.
Sweden XI: Nordfeldt, Lagerbielke, Hien, Lindelof, Karlstrom, Bernhardsson, Nygren, Ayari, Gudmundsson, Gyokeres, Isak
Subs: Zetterstrom, Viktor Johansson, Herman Johansson, Bergvall, Svensson, Elanga, Sema, Ekdal, Starfelt, Svanberg, Smith, Zeneli, Stroud, Nilsson, Ali
Play our predictor
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Do you agree with those who have Netherlands down as tournament dark horses? Find out play playing our interactive predictor. Victory in this game could be key to their chances of progression and a good draw.
Potter to persist with Isak and Gyokeres in tandem
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Good evening and welcome to our live coverage of Netherlands vs Sweden in Group F at the 2026 World Cup, a contest between two teams with contrasting strengths.
Sweden certainly pack a punch up front with Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres in tandem, while the Dutch possess a strong back four and one of the most technically proficient midfields in the tournament.
Despite the Netherlands’ apparent defensive strength, they were pegged back twice by a dangerous Japan side and had to settle for a 2-2 draw in their opening game.
There is plenty of scepticism back home about Ronald Koeman’s approach, and compared to the great Dutch sides of the past they look short on blue-chip attackers. Crysencio Summerville, Donyell Malen and Cody Gakpo is a decent front three, but there is no Arjen Robben, Dennis Bergkamp or Marco van Basten in the ranks this time.
Sweden and Graham Potter find themselves one positive result away from a place in the knockout stages, despite failing to win a single game in qualifying (Potter was not in charge for all of the campaign). It was only their Nations League results that earned them a place in the play-offs.
Yasin Ayari scored twice in a 5-1 victory over Tunisia, though they look certain to finish bottom of the group so the quality of opposition should be taken into account.
Potter said: “We’ll meet another top team at the weekend that’s one of the favourites for the competition, I would say, when you look at the players they have, the quality they have. So, it’s going to be a tough game.”
Asked about Isak and Gyokeres’s partnership, he added: “I think they complement each other very well. They bring different attributes, different qualities.
“Individually, of course, they’re top players. But I think together they can be a real threat. So the challenge for us is to make sure the team functions well and to get the best out of those two guys.”
Full team news on the way shortly.