Netherlands thrash Sweden to all but seal World Cup last-32 spot

Brian Brobbey and Cody Gakpo each scored twice as the Netherlands dismantled Sweden 5-1, a result that all but mathematically guarantees Ronald Koeman’s side a place in the last 32 of the World Cup. The emphatic victory came at a crucial moment for the Dutch, who had faced mounting criticism after a patchy run of results. Koeman’s riposte was as decisive as the scoreline suggests, with his team producing their most complete performance of the tournament. Brobbey opened the scoring early, latching onto a through ball to slot past the Swedish goalkeeper, before Gakpo doubled the lead with a curling effort from the edge of the box. Sweden pulled one back just before half-time, but any hope of a comeback was extinguished within minutes of the restart. Gakpo restored the two-goal cushion with a powerful header, and Brobbey added his second with a clinical finish after a swift counter-attack. A fifth goal, netted by a teammate late on, completed the rout. The margin of victory means the Netherlands now sit comfortably at the top of their group, with only a mathematical anomaly capable of denying them progression. For Sweden, the defeat leaves their qualification hopes hanging by a thread. Koeman, who had endured scrutiny over his tactics and squad selection, watched from the touchline as his players delivered a statement performance. With two group games still to play, the Dutch are on the cusp of reaching the knockout stages for the first time since 2014.