Netherlands’ 5-1 thrashing of Sweden in Houston was the most tactically interesting contest of the World Cup so far; a perfect demonstration of how formations and shapes can dictate the flow of matches.Sweden’s strike partnership of Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres worked effectively in their win over Tunisia — also a 5-1 scoreline — including assisting one another for goals. But in truth, they’ve rarely looked like an effective partnership for Sweden over the years. Although at times they combine well, it’s rare to see top-level international sides use two proper No 9s together, for good reason — the other eight outfielders are invariably overrun. Saturday’s game was a prime example.Graham Potter continued with his 5-3-2 system against a Netherlands side that boasted tremendous speed down the flanks, and Sweden were completely dismantled in the early stages.Sweden had three main problems. The first was that they couldn’t deal with the physical presence of Sunderland’s Brian Brobbey, who replaced winger Crysencio Summerville in the only change to the Dutch side from their 2-2 draw with Japan. With Sweden man-marking in midfield, the Netherlands played long balls up to Brobbey, who is hugely effective with his back to goal. Sweden were simply unable to deal with his power.The second problem was that Ryan Gravenberch and Tijjani Reijnders were hugely effective at receiving the ball on the turn, drifting past Sweden’s marking with ease. Here, Gravenberch turns past two Sweden players into space between the lines…… while in this instance, Reijnders turns past pressure before shooting.But the third problem was the biggest: the numbers game out wide.Micky van de Ven and Denzel Dumfries didn’t look to run behind the wingers ahead of them — they knew that they would go unmarked in possession, and therefore remained deep and were almost the Netherlands’ chief playmakers. They were always the out-balls, no one really came forward to close them down, and the Dutch dominated possession comfortably. This was a direct result of Sweden’s 5-3-2.Sweden’s hope was that, by keeping two strikers high up, they could isolate the Dutch centre-backs and attack quickly into space. Goalkeeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt hit long balls downfield, but Virgil van Dijk and new Spurs signing Jan Paul van Hecke coped easily.