The Netherlands have taken an early lead in Houston – and Ronald Koeman’s tactical move worked perfectly.
The Netherlands scored twice early in their Group F clash with Sweden, and manager Ronald Koeman’s one change in the line-up proved to be pure inspiration.
Here you can see the first half commentary: LIVE – Netherlands vs Sweden: Commentary, updates, goals and statistics
Here you get comments on the second half!
Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey, who came on for Crysencio Summerville in the only change from the team that drew against Japan, netted after just five minutes and gave the Dutch the lead in Houston.
Brobbey hammered in Cody Gakpo’s cross, and the Netherlands took a grip on advancing to the playoffs with a win against their Scandinavian opponents.
Then Brobbey doubled both his own goal tally and his team’s lead – just 12 minutes later. With full stretch, he deflected a cross from Denzel Dumfries into the far corner. To the great joy of the national team manager.
The Oranje are in a very good position to advance to the round of 32. Sweden, on the other hand – led by Graham Potter, former Brighton, Chelsea and West Ham manager – will now have to fight their way back into the game, despite already having three points in the group after the 5-1 crushing of Tunisia.
Lineups
Netherlands (XI): Verbruggen – Dumfries, Van Hecke, Van Dijk, Van de Ven – Gravenberch, De Jong, Reijnders – Gakpo, Brobbey, Malen
Sweden (XI): Nordfeldt – Lagerbielke, Hien, Lindelöf – Bernhardsson, Nygren, Karlström, Ayari, Gudmundsson – Isak, Gyökeres
Read: Reports of great dissatisfaction in the Senegal squad – Norway’s next opponent
Key figures – Netherlands vs. Sweden
- The Netherlands have not lost a World Cup match in regulation time in their last 13 matches – the longest streak in the tournament’s history, shared with Brazil between 1958 and 1966.
- The last time they lost in regulation time was in the 2010 World Cup final against Spain.
- Sweden’s five goals against Tunisia in the opening match already equals the number from the entire group stage of the 2018 World Cup. Only once before – in 1994 with six goals – has Sweden scored more in the group stage.
- Sweden has only won one of their last seven games against the Netherlands.
