The Netherlands didn’t just beat Sweden on Saturday. They buried them. A 5-1 demolition in Houston put Group F on notice, and it wasn’t even that close. Brian Brobbey scored twice inside the first 17 minutes, Cody Gakpo added two more after halftime, and Crysencio Summerville finished the job late. The Dutch went from a frustrating draw with Japan to sitting pretty on top of the group with four points.
Gakpo was the best player on the field by a mile. He set up Brobbey’s opener in the fifth minute with a cross that found him in the tiny pocket of space between Sweden’s center backs. Then he scored one himself just after the restart — a simple tap-in at the far post off Denzel Dumfries’ low cross. Seven minutes later he grabbed another, cutting inside onto his right foot and placing it into the bottom left corner. By the time he helped set up Summerville’s fifth, Sweden’s defense had basically checked out.
Brobbey made Ronald Koeman’s decision to start him look obvious. There was debate about whether to go with Summerville from the beginning. Brobbey answered it with two sharp finishes. The first was a right-footed stab from Gakpo’s cross. The second was a stretch to redirect Dumfries’ ball into the bottom corner. Both goals showed instincts that have sometimes been missing from his international game. These were his first World Cup goals and only his second and third strikes for the national team. Not a bad time to find your form.
Sweden’s right side was a disaster
Alexander Bernhardsson had a rough afternoon at right wing-back. That’s putting it nicely. The Dutch kept finding space on his flank and Bernhardsson couldn’t track runners or keep possession. Both of Brobbey’s goals came from attacks that exploited his side. Graham Potter pulled him in the 56th minute and Anthony Elanga scored within three minutes of coming on. That basically tells you everything you need to know.
Sweden had looked solid beating Tunisia in their opener. But this was a different level of opponent and it showed. Five goals conceded, a defense that looked lost against any kind of movement, and an attack that couldn’t find a rhythm until the game was already over. Potter has work to do. The tournament doesn’t stop for bad days.
The Netherlands now have four points and control of Group F. They’re not running away with anything yet — Japan is still in the mix — but they look like the team nobody wants to draw in the knockout rounds. Gakpo is playing at a level that makes you think about golden boot conversations. Brobbey looks like he belongs. And the defense, well, they held Sweden to one goal so maybe they’re fine. The real tests are still ahead.
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