Brian Brobbey and Cody Gakpo scored two goals apiece as the Netherlands powered to a commanding 5-1 victory over Sweden, moving to the top of Group F at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Dutch delivered an attacking masterclass, with manager Ronald Koeman’s surprise decision to start Brian Brobbey ahead of Crysencio Summerville paying immediate dividends. The striker rewarded his coach’s faith with two early goals that set the tone for a dominant performance.
The Netherlands needed just five minutes to break the deadlock. Brobbey initiated the move by laying the ball off to Tijjani Reijnders, who quickly found Cody Gakpo on the left. Gakpo drilled a low cross into the box, and Brobbey arrived at the perfect moment to poke the ball past the Swedish goalkeeper for a 1-0 lead.
Twelve minutes later, the Dutch struck again in almost identical fashion. This time Denzel Dumfries surged down the right flank and delivered a dangerous low cross. Brobbey once again got in front of his marker and guided the ball into the net to double the advantage after just 17 minutes.
Sweden struggled to cope with the Netherlands’ relentless attacking pressure but began to show signs of life after the first hydration break. The Scandinavians believed they had found a way back into the match late in the first half when Gustaf Lagerbielke headed home Benjamin Nygren’s free kick. However, celebrations were cut short as VAR confirmed Lagerbielke was among several Swedish players in an offside position.
That decision proved costly for Sweden, as the Dutch took complete control immediately after halftime.
Koeman introduced Summerville at the break in place of Donyell Malen, and the substitute made an instant impact. Just two minutes into the second half, Summerville delivered a low cross that narrowly evaded Brobbey’s attempt to complete his hat trick. The ball rolled through to Gakpo at the far post, and the Liverpool forward made no mistake, calmly finishing to make it 3-0.
Eight minutes later, the Netherlands struck again on a devastating counterattack. Sweden’s Alexander Isak lost possession in midfield, allowing the Dutch to break quickly. Summerville carried the attack forward before slipping the ball to Gakpo, who cut inside from the left and fired an unstoppable shot into the net for his second goal of the afternoon and the Netherlands’ fourth.
Sweden finally found a moment of joy just before the hour mark. Isak redeemed himself by threading a perfectly weighted pass through the Dutch defense for Anthony Elanga. The winger raced onto the ball and coolly clipped his finish beyond goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen to reduce the deficit to 4-1.
Any hopes of a Swedish comeback were extinguished by a disciplined Dutch performance that controlled possession and limited opportunities. The Netherlands continued to create chances and were rewarded once more in stoppage time.
Summerville, who had changed the match with his second-half introduction, capped off an excellent cameo in the 90th minute. The substitute collected the ball near the edge of the penalty area and swept a precise finish into the corner to complete the 5-1 rout.
The emphatic victory sends the Netherlands to the top of Group F and significantly boosts their chances of reaching the knockout stage. With Brobbey, Gakpo, and Summerville all producing standout performances, Koeman’s side looked every bit like a contender to make a deep run in the tournament.
For Sweden and manager Graham Potter, the heavy defeat leaves them with work to do in their remaining group matches as they seek to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
