Netherlands ahead Cody Gakpo (second from proper) celebrates with a teammate after scoring a purpose throughout their FIFA World Cup 2026 match towards Sweden on the Houston Stadium in Houston on June 20, 2026. — Reuters
Cody Gakpo and Brian Brobbey each scored twice because the rampant Netherlands thrashed Sweden 5-1 in a World Cup warning on Saturday in Houston.
The large win in entrance of almost 69,000 put the delighted Dutch on the cusp of the knockout rounds and gave them liftoff after being held by Japan.
Ronald Koeman’s aspect prime Group F with 4 factors from two video games, forward of Sweden on three, Japan (one) and Tunisia (none).
Regardless of the sobering loss, the Swedes had loads of possibilities however had been denied by good goalkeeping and wasteful ending.
They’re nonetheless in with probability of progressing into the final 32 however face a take a look at within the type of Japan of their ultimate group sport.
“We attacked, had some opportunities but obviously defensively you can’t concede that many and hope to win, but we’ll learn a lot from the game,” Sweden coach Graham Potter informed BBC TV.
“Sometimes you have to have these experiences, I didn’t think it was that type of game, but again that’s the scoreline, we have to accept it and learn from it.”
Sunderland striker Brobbey acquired his first begin of the event and repaid Koeman with predatory targets after 5 and 17 minutes.
Earlier than that the 24-year-old had scored solely as soon as for his nation.
In a sport filled with Premier League expertise, Liverpool’s Gakpo — who set Brobbey up for the opener — scored twice early within the second half.
Substitute Anthony Elanga pulled one again for Sweden simply earlier than the hour with a cultured end.
Substitute Crysencio Summerville, who was changed within the beginning line-up by Brobbey, had the final phrase for the five-star Dutch.
“If you look further at the goals we scored, that will cause fear among opponents,” Koeman mentioned.
“The way those goals came about, in transition with a lot of pace and a lot of quality, we can be incredibly dangerous.”
Liftoff for Dutch
Two crew members from the historic Artemis II lunar mission had been among the many VIP company, a nod to Houston’s place as the house of area flight.
The Dutch, twice pegged again in a vigorous 2-2 draw with Japan to begin their title bid, made the brighter begin in entrance of their orange-clad followers and King Willem-Alexander.
Brobbey, who got here in for Summerville regardless of the winger scoring towards Japan, began and completed the primary purpose.
It was made within the Premier League, with goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, midfielder Tijjani Reijnders and Gakpo all concerned.
Brobbey exchanged passes with Gakpo, earlier than the Anfield attacker crossed in low from the left for his team-mate to stab in from shut vary.
On the different finish the much-vaunted assault of Liverpool’s Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres of Arsenal had been feeding on scraps for Sweden.
Twelve minutes after his opener Brobbey made it 2-0 when a deflected Denzel Dumfries cross from the best fell completely into his path and he toe-poked previous Kristoffer Nordfeldt.
Sweden, who thrashed Tunisia 5-1 of their first sport, then created a number of alternatives for Gyokeres and Yasin Ayari to scale back the deficit however they didn’t discover a well past Verbruggen earlier than half-time.
World Cup warning
Koeman despatched on Summerville for Malen on the break, and two minutes later it was mission inconceivable for Sweden, Gakpo prodding in from shut vary after one more harmful low cross from Dumfries.
Gakpo scored a beautiful fourth on 54 minutes, turning inside his defender earlier than firing low into the underside nook.
Elanga pulled one again when he raced away from the Dutch defence and rattled the ball previous Verbruggen.
West Ham’s Summerville made it 5 within the dying minutes together with his second purpose in North America.
“Of course this match was better than the previous one. That’s what you want, ideally you want to win right from the start,” mentioned Koeman.
“But if this is a sign of more to come, then were heading in the right direction.”
