The Houston Stadium in Texas was the setting where two European greats met in Group F. The Netherlands team beat Sweden 5-1. Brian Brobbey and Cody Gakpo scored doubles. Ronald Koeman's team enters the next phase of the 2026 World Cup.

Once original de Países Bajos: Bart Verbruggen; Denzel Dumfries, Jan Paul van Hecke, Virgil van Dijk, Micky van de Ven; Ryan Gravenberch, Frenkie de Jong, Tijjani Reijnders; Donyell Malen, Brian Brobbey and Cody Gakpo.

Once initial de Suecia: Kristoffer Nordfeldt; Gustaf Lagerbielke, Isak Hien, Victor Lindelöf; Jesper Karlström, Alexander Bernhardsson, Benjamin Nygren, Yasin Ayari, Gabriel Gudmundsson; Viktor Gyökeres and Alexander Isak.

Netherlands looked for the early goal. After drawing with Japan on the first day, the Dutch team had to look for victory. This is how he would achieve it in the first 5 minutes of the game. Brian Brobbey opened the account for the selection of Ronald Koeman.

The Dutch team did not relax after the initial goal. In the first 15 minutes of the match, the Netherlands dominated possession of the ball by more than 60%. The sides generated a lot of danger. A cross from Denzel Dumfries with his right foot set up Brian Brobbey again for his second goal of the afternoon.

Sweden had a lot of problems to take away the superiority of the Netherlands. The Swedes beat Tunisia 5-1. His balance in favor of goals began to decrease in the face of the Dutch offensive power.

The Swedish team opted to defend themselves in their own field, even with 2-0 down. However, upon recovering the ball, Sweden only needed three to four passes to reach the defensive goal by Bart Verbruggen.

Sweden, with its tools, reached the rival goal on a couple of occasions. In fact, on a dead ball, Gustaf Lagerbielke took advantage of a poor start by the goalkeeper to score. However, Lagerbielke was in an advanced position. But Sweden warned and scored very well in the final minutes of the first half.

The closing of the first half was very well played by Sweden. Shots by Viktor Gyökeres and Yasin Ayari largely required the interventions of Bart Verbruggen. In a first half in which Brian Brobbey scored a double, Verbruggen was the great figure for the Netherlands.

Second time in Houston

In two minutes of the second half, the Netherlands continued to exploit the wings. The main offensive card was the advances of Denzel Dumfries on the right side. The Inter Milan footballer put in another low cross that was taken advantage of by Cody Gakpo. The three Dutch goals were traced.

Nine minutes into the second half, the Netherlands began to put the game away. Cody Gakpo, with time and space, had a direct duel with Gustaf Lagerbielke. The Swedish defender could not contain Gakpo's advance. After a cutback, the Liverpool footballer scored the fourth goal with a shot against goalkeeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt's post.

With the result in their favor, the Netherlands gave the ball away a little. Although the victory seems convincing, Bart Verbruggen's performance was very remarkable. The Dutch goalkeeper was an important figure in containing the Swedish offensive. They had more than 8 shots on goal throughout the match.

Ronald Koeman's team did damage when he pressed the accelerator. In true Swedish style, the Dutch recovered a ball in the middle of the field and quickly went forward. Crysencio Summerville received a ball ten meters from the area. Summerville took shape and, with his right foot, crossed his shot that sealed the Dutch victory.

Detailed data from the duel between the Netherlands and Sweden