Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman is feeling the heat after a sloppy 2-2 draw with Japan in the World Cup opener. The Dutch led twice but coughed up an 89th-minute equalizer, and the finger-pointing has been loud. Now they face a Sweden side that just crushed Tunisia 5-1. A win here would jump Netherlands above Sweden in Group F. A loss doesn’t eliminate them, but it’d leave a bad taste and some serious pressure.
The big question is up top. Koeman could make one change to the starting lineup: all-time leading scorer Memphis Depay, who returned from a thigh injury with a sub appearance against Japan, might replace Donyell Malen. Memphis has history with Koeman and the system. Malen worked hard but didn’t look dangerous. Expect Koeman to go attack-minded, not sit back. He caught flak for switching to a back five against Japan to protect a 2-1 lead, and that backfired. Japan scored late, and the critics had their knives out.
Koeman defends his tactics, but the clock is ticking
In the postgame presser, Koeman didn’t back down. “There was also a problem with pressure on the flanks,” he said. “So if you look at the game, both goals, well, we didn’t defend well.” He added that Japan started defending after their equalizer, which opened up chances for a Dutch winner that never came. “Football is a funny game,” Koeman shrugged. “I don’t regret my choices.”
Koeman has no new injury issues, which helps. The defense, though, has to tighten up. Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk scored one and led the back line, but Sweden’s attack is a different beast.
Sweden’s deadly duo and a test for van Dijk
Coach Graham Potter looks set to stick with the same XI that thumped Tunisia. That means Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres up top together. Both scored and set each other up in that game. They are a real problem. Isak will line up against his club teammate van Dijk, plus new Tottenham signing Jan Paul van Hecke. That matchup could decide the game.
Left back Gabriel Gudmundsson limped off against Tunisia but the issue is minor, per the team. He’ll be busy trying to slow down West Ham’s Crysencio Summerville, who scored for the Dutch and is in form. Spurs midfielder Lucas Bergvall is again expected on the bench, especially after Yasin Ayari’s goal-scoring display in the opener.
Predicted lineups
Netherlands XI: Verbruggen; Dumfries, Van Hecke, Van de Ven; De Jong, Gravenberch; Summerville, Reijnders, Gakpo; Memphis
Sweden XI: Nordfelt; Lagerbielke, Hien, Lindelof; Bernhardsson, Nygren, Karlstrom, Ayari, Gudmundsson; Isak, Gyokeres
Sweden have a doubt in Gudmundsson but expect him to start. This one is a Group F pivot. Netherlands need control, Sweden have the momentum. Something has to give.
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