22/06/2026

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MONDAY 22nd JUNE 2026

FROM LEFT: Netherlands’ Denzel Dumfries, Donyell Malen, goalscorers Cody Gakpo, Brian Brobbey and Crysencio Summerville celebrate after trashing Sweden in the 2026 World Cup Group F match at Houston Stadium in Texas yesterday. – AFPPIC/REUTERSPIC

Brobbey answers Dutch striker question as Netherlands crush Sweden Fresh Oranje

T HE pre-match conversation revolved almost entirely around Sweden’s star for wards. Graham Potter was repeatedly asked how he planned to get the best out of Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres, while Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman faced questions about whether he feared the pair. “We’re not scared,” Koeman had said beforehand. By the end of a sweltering afternoon in Houston yes terday, it was clear he had every rea son to be confident. Instead of Sweden’s celebrated strike partnership taking centre stage, Brian Brobbey produced the performance that defined the match, scoring twice as the Netherlands dis mantled Sweden 5-1 to move to the top of Group F. Brobbey’s first half brace put the Dutch firmly in control before Cody Gakpo struck twice after the break. Crysencio Summerville added a late fifth goal, while Anthony Elanga scored Sweden’s only reply.

with clever one-touch combinations, while Yasin Ayari, Gustaf Lagerbielke and Elanga all threatened as Sweden enjoyed their best spell of the game. Yet even as Sweden improved, the Netherlands remained lethal. Just two minutes into the second half, Dumfries again found space on the right flank and delivered another dangerous cross. Gakpo converted from close range to make it 3-0 before adding a superb fourth seven minutes later, cutting inside and drilling a finish beyond Nordfeldt. The Liverpool forward credited the Dutch tactical approach for cre ating the openings. “Today there was more variation in attacking play, more players in dif ferent positions, movement and all those things,” Gakpo said. “So it was maybe more difficult for the defenders to really mark us and we became free in the box. I think that was the little thing maybe we missed in the last game.” Elanga’s well-taken goal briefly

right and delivered a dangerous low ball into the six-yard box, where Brobbey stretched to turn it beyond goalkeeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt. Sweden arrived in Houston buoyed by their 5-1 victory over Tunisia and carrying considerable expectations. On paper, they possess one of the most enviable attacks in the competition. Isak and Gyokeres are among Europe’s most sought-after forwards and were expected to test the Dutch defence throughout the afternoon. Instead, Sweden struggled to gain a foothold in the opening stages. Their midfield repeatedly surren dered possession and their back line found it difficult to contain the movement and physicality of the Dutch attack. Potter reacted by abandoning his initial 5-3-2 system and switching to a back four during the first hydration break. The adjustment improved Sweden’s attacking play considera bly. Gyokeres began linking attacks

The result was significant for more than the scoreline. Questions had lingered over whether the Netherlands possessed a clinical centre-forward capable of leading them deep into the tournament. Brobbey arrived in Houston with just one international goal and hav ing started the opening draw against Japan on the bench. By fulltime, he looked like a player who may have solved one of the Dutch team’s big gest concerns. Koeman’s decision to start Brobbey instead of the more experi enced Memphis Depay proved deci sive almost immediately. After just five minutes, goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen launched a long pass forward. Brobbey shrugged off Isak Hien, powered into space and swept home Gakpo’s low cross to give the Netherlands an early lead. Twelve minutes later, the same combination of strength and instinct brought a second goal. Denzel Dumfries burst down the

gave Sweden something to celebrate, but any hopes of a comeback quickly disappeared. Summerville com pleted the scoring late on to cap a dominant Dutch performance. Koeman was particularly pleased with the response after the disap pointing draw against Japan. “It could be that the way we played builds confidence,” he said. “Now we’ve got a slightly better piece of mind with the four points. You can build on what happened now and that’s really good.” The Dutch coach also praised Brobbey’s development after his match-winning display. “He’s fitter, he’s sharper and he’s developing really well,” Koeman said. Potter accepted that his team had been beaten by a superior side on the day. “They’re a top team and they were better than us today,” he said. “We have to congratulate them, but I think we’ll learn a lot from the game.” – The Independent/Agencies

High expectations

High-stakes showdown

Merciless Samurai Blue

p 26 Clark builds lead p 28

p 29

p 30

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