Oranje thrash Sweden 5-1 to move to brink of World Cup knockout stage

Oranje took a huge step towards qualification for the last 32 of the FIFA World Cup on Saturday with a convincing 5-1 victory over Sweden in Houston Stadium, Texas. Brian Brobbey and Cody Gakpo scored two goals each, with Crysencio Summerville adding another off the bench to complete the win. This makes the Dutch national side top of group F, with Japan facing Tunisia in their second round of fixtures at 6 a.m. on Sunday.

Koeman surprised many with his starting lineup. Crysencio Summerville, who scored in the 2-2 draw against Japan last week, had been given a starting spot after impressive recent performances. But he found himself on the bench for this game as Koeman opted for Brian Brobbey in the striker position and Donyell Malen, who has struggled for goals in the national side in recent weeks, on the right wing position vacated by Summerville. Frankie de Jong made the game despite fitness concerns after a training ground collision with Quinten Timber, which led to Timber missing out.

The move could not have gone much better for Koeman when Brobbey broke the deadlock after just four minutes played. The striker laid the ball off to Tijjani Reijnders, who played a pass into the path of Cody Gakpo, and his low cross was inch-perfect for Brobbey to tap home.

Oranje were warned of Sweden’s attacking prowess a minute later. The Swedes had beaten Tunisia 5-1 in their opening game, with Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres proving to be a formidable duo up front. And they showed glimpses in the first half as well, with Gyokeres hitting a low, hard shot into the near post for Bart Verbruggen to stop.

Brobbey got his second goal in the 17th minute to make it 2-0. It was brilliant goalscoring instincts from the Sunderland striker again, getting on the end of another good low cross by Denzel Dumfries on this occasion.

It was Oranje’s 100th goal in the World Cup, making them the eighth country to achieve this feat.

Sweden manager Graham Potter made slight tactical adjustments, and this led to the Swedes creating chances towards the end of the half. First, Yasin Ayari, who scored two great goals against Tunisia, let himself down with a poor touch after Gyokeres had found him with a great cross.

Then, a mis-hit from Gyokeres and another shot from the Arsenal forward, which had to be punched away by Verbruggen, all came before the Brighton goalkeeper had to make his most difficult save right before halftime. Getting down low to meet Ayari’s effort in the near pot.

It was the perfect start to the second half for Koeman’s side. His side made it 3-0 in the 47th minute. Dumfries, who has signed for Real Madrid, got his second assist of the game in a similar fashion to the goal he set up for Brobbey. The right back came forward and played a low, hard ball to Cody Gakpo in the box for a tap-in.

Gakpo added another goal to the scoresheet seven minutes later. The Liverpool winger was left isolated with Sweden defender Gustaf Lagierbelke, and this was all too easy for Gakpo, as he cut inside and hit a low drive into the near post out of reach of Kristoffer Nordfeldt in the Sweden goal.

Sweden got their solitary goal of the game in the 59th minute. Isak, who had lost the ball for Oranje’s fourth goal, made up for his error by setting up substitute Anthony Elanga, using the winger’s blistering pace to set him through. Elanga stayed calm with the finish, placing it over Verbruggen into the net.

But this was not the end of the scoring for the game. Summerville, who had impressed after coming on at halftime for Malen, got his second goal in two games at the tournament with a placed shot into the bottom corner.

The defeat could prove costly for Sweden. The Swedes face Japan in the final game, with their goal difference now back at 0 after undoing all the good work they had built up with their win over Tunisia last week.

Oranje face Tunisia in the final group game next Friday. Tunisia made the unusual decision of firing their manager, Sabri Lamouchi, after the drubbing by Sweden and replacing him with experienced international manager Hervé Renard.