Netherlands did not hold back and thrashed Sweden 5-1, a score that didn’t necessarily reflect what happened in the match held at Houston City Stadium.
In a festive atmosphere led by both sets of fans—though more so by the Dutch fans in their colorful orange—the Dutch team truly functioned like a well-oiled machine with its dynamic and relentless pace.
With this goal-scoring spree, the Dutch squad has reached four points, sitting atop the standings. Sweden, for its part, experienced a journey from heaven to hell: coming off a 5-1 rout of Tunisia, they ended up getting a taste of their own medicine, suffering their worst World Cup humiliation since that fateful 7-1 loss to Brazil in 1950.
The Brobbey and Gakpo Show
The Netherlands’ master plan was lethal: stretch the field and dominate the midfield. Just five minutes in, Gakpo sent a venomous pass into the box, and Brobbey, like a true finisher, struck the ball first-time to open the scoring. By the 17th minute, Brobbey himself swept in to finish off a diagonal pass from Denzel Dumfries, tapping the ball in to make it 2-0 early on.
Gakpo didn’t want to be left behind. In addition to orchestrating the play, he netted the third goal right at the start of the second half (47’) following another cross from Dumfries. Minutes later (54’), he unleashed a thunderous right-footed strike to complete his own brace and send the crowd into a frenzy.
A Wall in Goal and Royalty in the Stands
And make no mistake: Sweden didn’t go scoreless for lack of effort, but because they came up against an imperial Bart Verbruggen. The goalkeeper shut the door with four monumental saves in the first half. The Scandinavians’ consolation goal didn’t come until the 59th minute, thanks to a left-footed strike by Anthony Elanga, barely making up for a lopsided score.
VAR also made its presence felt, disallowing a goal by Gustaf Lagerbielke for offside in the 44th minute. Interestingly, Lagerbielke has blue blood: he is a baron of the Swedish nobility (the son and grandson of counts), but not even royalty could save him from the raised offside flag.
Those who did celebrate from a luxury box were King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, accompanied by a vibrant orange tide of nearly 69,000 fans who made their way through Houston on their traditional Oranje Fanwalk.
Off to Sleep NBA-Style
Crysencio Summerville put the icing on the cake in the 89th minute. After assisting on Gakpo’s second goal, Summerville scored the fifth and sealed the match by celebrating with NBA star Steph Curry’s iconic “Night Night” gesture, literally sending Sweden’s hopes to sleep.
Group F is heating up: Sweden will play for its life next Thursday against Japan in Dallas, while an emboldened Oranje will look to secure its spot against Tunisia in Kansas City.
