Netherlands 5-1 Sweden: Dutch delight in Houston

Ronald Koeman looks delighted with this performance and his side were clinical.

They gave up some big chances but to score five goals from seven shots on target is quite something.

Scoring goals was a bit of a concern for the Dutch before this tournament.

Not anymore.

Sweden will be really disappointed with how they let in some of these goals.

Some lovely passing and the ball comes to Crysensio Summerville. He takes a couple of touches and drills a low shot into the corner.

5-1 to the Netherlands.

Summerville has now scored two goals in two games for the Dutch.

Ayari keeps on making runs forward and he gets in the box again.

This time he smashes over.

Ayari has been a really bright spot for Sweden.

Anthony Elanga has come off the bench and he puts it away on the counter.

Lovely pass to set him free and Elanga clips home and urges the Swedish fans to keep believing.

4-1 and over 30 minutes to go.

If Sweden get another goal soon it will be very interesting.

Dutch delight in Houston as Gakpo cuts inside and drills home a low effort.

Gakpo is flying on the left and Sweden are absolutely floored.

The Netherlands have been so clinical and ruthless.

This could get very out of hand.

Six shots on target for the Dutch and they have scored four goals.

Okay, it seems like the Dutch have a very clear plan and it is working very well.

Another superb cross from the right from Dumfries finds Gakpo at the back post.

He slots home to make it 3-0 right at the start of the second half.

The Dutch fans go crazy. That should be that. 3-0. Cruising.

Brian Brobbey finished two great crosses early to put the Dutch in a commanding position, and they’ve had a couple of chances to put the result beyond doubt.

But Sweden, much to their credit, have had plenty of chances and should have scored at least once. They’ve had nine shots to five from the Netherlands.

Graham Potter will fancy Sweden’s chances of getting back in this with an early goal in the second half.

Ronald Koeman will be happy to be ahead but the Dutch need a third soon.

Gyokeres drills a free kick on goal but Verbruggen saves.

Then Ayari smashes a low shot which looks like it’s going in, but Verbruggen saves again.

Sweden had a real go.

A wicked free kick from the left is whipped in to a great area.

Lagerbielke gets there first and heads home, but he’s offside.

The decision is checked, but he was offside.

Sweden are knocking on the door here. Big time.

Sweden have gone really close to making it 2-1 before the break.

Gyokeres curls a powerful effort on goal but Verbruggen saves.

Then Ayari gets the ball on the edge of the box but smashes over.

Every time the Dutch go forward it looks like they’re going to score.

This time Malen is in on the right side of the box.

He drills an effort across goal which goes just wide of the post.

Malen could have squared that to Brobbey.

Wow. Have a day, Brian Brobbey.

A cross from the right is deflected into the path of Brobbey and he finishes from close range.

Two crosses, two goals for Brobbey and the Dutch are in dreamland.

Sweden look stunned.

What a dream start for the Netherlands!

A cross from the left finds Brian Brobbey in the box, and he finishes calmly.

Ronald Koeman got the big call right bringing in Brobbey to start.

The game is underway in Houston and there is incredible noise inside the stadium.

Fair play to fans of both the Netherlands and Sweden.

They are making this quite the occasion. Also, the colors are superb.

After the 5-1 win against Tunisia to open the World Cup, it was very unlikely Graham Potter would make any changes given how well everything clicked.

And he hasn’t.

Sweden line up in their 3-5-2 formation with Isak and Gyokeres leading the line up top and their scrap with Dutch defenders Van Dijk, Van Hecke and Van de Ven is going to be wonderful.

The Swedes also have Elanga, Svanberg and Bergvall to bring off the bench to boost their attack.

Sweden starting lineup

Nordfeldt; Lagerbielke, Hien, Lindelof; Bernhardsson, Karlstrom, Ayari, Nygren, Gudmundsson; Isak, Gyokeres

Ronald Koeman has brought in Brian Brobbey up top to lead the line for the Netherlands.

The Sunderland striker had a fine season in the Premier League, his debut season in England, and is so strong and clever when holding the ball up.

Brobbey comes in for Summerville, with Malen and Gakpo playing out wide in attack.

Netherlands starting lineup

Verbruggen; Dumfries, Van Hecke, Van Dijk, Van de Ven; Gravenberch, De Jong, Reijnders; Malen, Brobbey, Gakpo

What a sight in Houston, as the Dutch fans are dressed in orange and marching to the stadium.

Seeing the wave of orange partying through the streets is quite the sight.

A tournament doesn’t feel complete unless the Dutch are there.

Not much was expected when Graham Potter took charge of Sweden a few months ago.

Now they’re within one win of the knockout rounds of the World Cup.

Sweden got through the playoffs in European qualifying and they now have a very fun team in the World Cup, with fit-again Alexander Isak (the most expensive player in Premier League history) and Arsenal forward Viktor Gyokeres playing up front together.

Sweden’s fluid 3-5-2 system is lovely to watch and they are robust defensively but have a lot of quality to finish off chances.

Whisper it for now, but it’s becoming clearer that Sweden could well be the legit darkhorse of this tournament.

Here’s how to watch the Netherlands and Sweden go at it in Houston, with Sweden in a great position in the group and the Dutch have to come out and have a go.

How to watch Netherlands vs Sweden live, stream link and start time

Kick off time: 1pm ET Saturday (June 20)
Venue: NRG Stadium — Houston
TV Channel: Telemundo
Streaming: Stream live on Peacock, en Espanol

On paper the Netherlands have an extremely talented, and deep, squad.

But the big question is whether or not Ronald Koeman can find the right balance.

In defense he has some brilliant center backs with Van Dijk, Van de Ven and Van Hecke all likely to start.

In midfield Frenkie de Jong is pulling the strings, while up top Crysencio Summerville and Cody Gakpo will buzz around.

But there was something just missing in that draw against Japan and Koeman needs to find a bit of extra solidity and control for this game to stop Sweden’s counter attacks.