The Netherlands scored twice early on in their Group F clash against Sweden, with manager Ronald Koeman’s one change to the Dutch line-up proving to be an inspired one.
Sunderland’s Brian Brobbey, brought into replace Crysencio Summerville in the only change to the team that drew with Japan, netted after just five minutes to give Koeman’s side the advantage in Houston.
Brobbey thumped home Cody Gakpo’s cross as the Netherlands look to all but secure passage to the knockout phase with a victory against their Scandinavian opponents.
Brobbey then doubled his tally, and his side’s advantage, 12 minutes later when, at full stretch, he poked Denzel Dumfries’s delivery into the far corner – much to the delight of his manager.
Oranje are in a commanding position to progress to the last 32. Meanwhile, Sweden, managed by former Brighton, Chelsea and West Ham boss Graham Potter, will be looking to get back into to the contest, having already picked up three points in the group courtesy of a 5-1 thrashing of Tunisia.
Line-ups
Netherlands XI: Verbruggen; Dumfries, Van Hecke, Van Dijk, Van de Ven, Gravenberch, De Jong, Reijnders, Gakpo, Brobbey, Malen
Sweden XI: Nordfeldt, Lagerbielke, Hien, Lindelof, Bernhardsson, Nygren, Karlstrom, Ayari, Gudmundsson, Isak, Gyokeres
Where to watch Netherlands v Sweden: TV and online streams
Kick-off on Saturday is at 6pm UK time. In the UK, live coverage is on BBC One.
Streaming on a vast range of devices is available through the BBC iPlayer app and BBC Sport website.
Stats for Netherlands v Sweden
- The Netherlands have not lost any of the last 13 World Cup games (in normal time) – that’s the joint-longest unbeaten run by any team in the tournament’s history, along with Brazil between 1958 and 1966.
- Their last defeat in normal time came in the 2010 World Cup final against Spain
- Sweden’s five goals against Tunisia in their opener has already equalled their tally from the entire group stage at the 2018 World Cup, and they’ve only netted more group-stage goals in one of their previous six editions of the tournament (six in 1994).
- Sweden have won one of their last seven meetings with the Netherlands
