Netherlands thrash Sweden 5-1 to go top of World Cup group after Brobbey and Gakpo doubles
Brian Brobbey struck twice inside 17 minutes and Cody Gakpo added two more as Ronald Koeman's side bounced back from a draw with Japan to all but secure a place in the knockout stage.
Brobbey sparkles from the start
Koeman's decision to start Brian Brobbey over Crysencio Summerville paid off immediately. The Sunderland striker chested down a long ball from Bart Verbruggen, laid it off, and tapped in Cody Gakpo's cross in the 6th minute. He doubled the lead 11 minutes later, sliding onto a Denzel Dumfries delivery. Koeman said afterwards:
In that first goal, everything you want was there. We know Brian can do that very well. A fantastic start, it gives confidence.
Gakpo closes in on Dutch record
Gakpo struck twice in the second half, taking his World Cup tally to five goals. That leaves him two behind Johnny Rep's Netherlands record of seven. After the match, Gakpo was focused on the next win rather than personal milestones:
My next goal is to win the next match.
Summerville caps a dominant display
Substitute Crysencio Summerville, who had scored against Japan, again found the net from distance to make it 5-1. His crisp finish capped a strong cameo after replacing Donyell Malen at half-time.
How the goals flowed
- Kick-off at Houston Stadium
- Brobbey opens the scoring (6')
- Brobbey doubles the lead (17')
- Half-time with Netherlands leading 2-0
- Gakpo makes it 3-0 shortly after the restart
- Gakpo scores his second for 4-0
- Elanga pulls one back for Sweden (4-1)
- Summerville fires home the fifth
Swedish response and defensive lapses
After a water break midway through the first half, Sweden changed shape and created chances. Anthony Elanga, on as a substitute, outpaced the Dutch defence to score a consolation. Captain Virgil van Dijk acknowledged room for improvement:
Koeman echoed that the performance was nearly complete but not flawless.We had many good moments, but there are also things we need to improve.
Group F outlook and historical echoes
The win lifted the Netherlands to four points, top of Group F. Japan play Tunisia next, but Oranje are almost through. The 5-1 scoreline matches the Netherlands' biggest World Cup wins, behind only a 5-0 victory over South Korea in 1998. Former coach Guus Hiddink, reflecting on that match, recalled:
Korea wasn't that strong, but we got the spirit then. The realisation that we could go far.
- South Korea 1998
- 5
- Sweden 2026
- 4
- Spain 2014
- 4
- Austria 1978
- 4
- Argentina 1974
- 4
