Brobbey, Gakpo notch two goals apiece as Netherlands thumps Sweden, 5-1
HOUSTON - Netherlands forward Brian Brobbey justified the decision to move him into the starting lineup with two poacher's goals in a 5-1 World Cup stroll against Sweden on Saturday.
Cody Gakpo also netted two goals to boost Netherlands, three-time World Cup runner-up, with Anthony Elanga's goal to slice the lead to 4-1 of little use to the Scandinavians. Substitute Crysencio Summerville scored the fifth goal for the Netherlands before getting injured.
Sweden crushed Tunisia, 5-1, in its opener, but Group F will now go to the wire, although the Dutch will feel confident about going through with their current four points given the eight best third-place teams move on to the last 32.
They will still want to beat Tunisia on Thursday and top the group.
The Dutch looked slightly toothless in the box in the opening 2-2 draw with Japan, but it was still a surprise to see coach Ronald Koeman drop Sunday's goalscorer Summerville for the burly Brobbey.
However, the Sunderland man showed it was a touch of genius by giving the Dutch a real No. 9 and a big presence up front.
Early on he superbly held up a long ball from the goalkeeper and then charged into the box to finish off Gakpo's cross.
"That first goal had everything you could want. It was a brilliant start to the match. That gives you confidence," Koeman told NOS after his team was watched in Texas by the Dutch king and queen.
It was 2-0 in the 17th minute when Brobbey latched on to a Denzel Dumfries ball after the fullback had been given too much room on the right.
Brobbey's second tally was the 100th men's World Cup goal for the Oranje. They are the eighth side to pass the milestone but the only one yet to lift the trophy.
Ayarimisses the turning point
The first hydration break in the roofed Houston stadium was booed by orange and yellow fans. Momentum again shifted as Sweden came out of it with a new vigor.
Yasin Ayari spurned a golden opportunity after a whipped cross by Viktor Gyökeres, while Gustaf Lagerbielke was just offside when he headed in a free kick.
Summerville was introduced at the break, but it was Dumfries again causing havoc and Gakpo tapping in his cross at the back post in the 47th minute.
Liverpool forward Gakpo fired into the near corner in the 54th - the 100th goal of this tournament - and Elanga's strong finish after Alexander Isak's neat pass gave Sweden some late hope.
Graham Potter's team pushed to further cut the deficit but will have to do the job against Japan on Thursday in the group finale instead.
"Obviously really disappointed," the Englishman said. "It was a tricky one to analyze. We did lots of good things. We attacked, had good opportunities, but you can't concede that many and hope to win."
Summerville completed the Dutch rout in the 89th minute but was later caught on the head by a wayward knee and required lengthy treatment.
The last time Sweden conceded five goals in a men's World Cup match was the 1958 final against Brazil when they lost, 5-2. They are also the first team to win by four and lose by four in successive World Cup games.
Tunisia faces Japan later on Saturday in Monterrey, Mexico.
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This story was originally published June 20, 2026 at 1:58 PM.