The Netherlands put one foot in the World Cup knockout rounds with a stylish 5-1 demolition of Sweden on Saturday.
Sweden, themselves 5-1 winners against Tunisia in their opening Group F match, went into Saturday’s showdown with the Dutch in Houston knowing that a victory would guarantee their passage out of the group stage.
But Graham Potter’s side were torn apart by a rampant Netherlands team, who roared into a 2-0 lead after after just 17 minutes thanks to a brace from Sunderland’s Brian Brobbey.
Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo scored twice in the first nine minutes of the second half to put the Dutch 4-0 up, ensuring that Sweden’s lone strike from Anthony Elanga was only ever going to be a consolation goal.
Crysencio Summerville completed the Dutch rout with a fifth goal on 89 minutes.
The win leaves the Netherlands, who drew 2-2 with Japan in their opening game, on four points with a healthy plus four goal difference, which is almost certainly likely to be enough to secure a place in the last 32 of the expanded 48-team tournament.
The last time Sweden conceded five goals in a World Cup match was the 1958 final against Brazil when they lost 5-2.
Later Saturday, Germany or the Ivory Coast can guarantee their place in the knockout rounds with a victory when they meet in Group E in Toronto.
Germany thrashed debutants Curacao 7-1 in their opener and would be confirmed as group winners if they defeat Ivory Coast and Ecuador fail to beat Curacao in Kansas City.
Progressing to the knockout round would be a relief for the Germans who astonishingly have failed to reach that stage since they won their fourth World Cup in Brazil in 2014.
Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann said his team had to be prepared for Ivory Coast’s athleticism.
“Their speed is one of their biggest strengths and that’s what I think they do best,” he told reporters, highlighting the French-born Ivorian winger Nicolas Pepe.
“During the last game, he was everywhere,” Nagelsmann said of Pepe.
