21/06/2026 - 7:35 GMT+2
The Netherlands secured a strong 5-1 win against Sweden, bouncing back to lead Group F after a disappointing World Cup opener against Japan that ended in a draw.
Brian Brobbey led the team to an early two-point lead with back-to-back goals in the first half, and Cody Gakpo extended the lead to 3-0 just after halftime, scoring in the 47th minute off a cross from Denzel Dumfries. He matched Brobbey when he scored on a right-footed shot from the left box in the 54th minute.
The Dutch gameplan to play out wide to open up Sweden and cross to Brobbey worked perfectly early. He put the Netherlands on top in the fifth minute when Gakpo crossed into the middle of the box and Brobbey one-timed it with his right foot before tumbling forward to the grass.
His second goal came when he took a cross from Dumfries while sliding and just got his right foot on the ball, scoring inside the far post in the 17th minute.
