How the Netherlands defied defensive issues to dominate sorry Sweden | OneFootball

The Netherlands secured a thumping 5-1 win over Sweden in their Group F clash at Houston’s NRG stadium, but despite the margin of victory concerns remain.

Braces from Brian Brobbey and Cody Gakpo in addition to a strike from Crysencio Summerville got the job done for Ronald Koeman’s men, but a scintillating attacking display papered over some problems in other areas of the pitch.

Having taken four points from their opening two matches the Oranje have gone top of the group, and are now surely going to make the knockout stages.

But if they are to go deep in this year’s tournament there are several weaknesses which need to be corrected, and urgently.

FromTheSpot analyses how Oranje dominated Sweden and where they need to tighten up to avoid running into problems in the deeper they go into the tournament.

Brobbey and Dumfries both star in attack as Sweden falter

One key feature of the Netherlands attacking play was the use of Brobbey as the main in the middle of the front three. The Sunderland striker replaced Gakpo in the central role following the Liverpool wideman’s insipid showing against Japan, and vindicated Koeman’s decision in netting his opening goal.

The Dutchman started the move by playing in Tijani Reijnders after holding the ball up in midfield, before finishing it with a classic centre-forward’s goal from close range following Gakpo’s cross.

In playing as the target man Brobbey also allowed the midfielders and wide players to run beyond and vacate the spaces he was leaving.

This was particularly beneficial for Ryan Gravenberch, who excelled in the attacking number 8 role he looked so comfortable in during his first season at Liverpool.

Width was also vital to the Netherlands attacking plans, particularly through the use of the full backs. Micky Van de Van, starting on the left as opposed to the centre back position he usually occupies for Spurs, had a quiet night, but Denzel Dumfries provided a far sterner attacking threat.

The newly minted Real Madrid signing created two goals via his pace and pinpoint crosses, and overlapped well with Crysencio Summerville for the latter.

The Swedes, by contrast, were wasteful. They could do little about Bart Verbruggen’s inspired goalkeeping display, with the Brighton shot stopper saving a brace of efforts from Victor Gyokeres as well as a Yasin Ayari free kick. But they had plenty of other chances they failed to take advantage of.

Alexander Isak had an opportunity to play himself in during the opening 45, but let himself down via a poor touch. Ayari blazed multiple efforts from good positions over the bar, and Elanga’s deliveries were frequently found lacking.

Both sides struggle defensively in night for the attackers

For all the many, many positives going forward defence remains a worry for Ronald Koeman’s side. Multiple times they left sizeable gaps in both wide and central areas due to playing a high line, which the Swedish attack were unable to exploit.

The exception to this was Elanga’s goal, with the Dutch defence bypassed by an Isak throughball which left Elanga one-on-one.

The performances of Jean Paul Van Hecke and Virgil Van Dijk were also concerning. Both men looked slow and ponderous up against the speed of Victor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak, with Van Hecke in particular given a torrid time by Gyokeres.

Given his explosive pace shifting Van de Ven centrally may have helped to manage this situation.

Gaps in midfield were also an issue for the Dutch. To compensate for their high line the Oranje frequently used a back five, with Gravenberch effectively functioning as a third centre back.

In doing so, they created extra space in the middle for Sweden to take advantage of, and many of the Blågult’s most dangerous attacks came as a result of this strategy.

Mind you, given the scoreline it’s not like the Swedes were any better at the back, with Graham Potter’s outfit often guilty of allowing the Dutch time and space thanks to a failure to press and tendency to drop deep.

This was particularly evident for Gakpo’s second and Summerville’s goal, with both men allowed to pick their spot after not being closed down.

Despite their problematic defending, the Netherlands performed strongly tonight against a tricky opponent.

But in what is becoming a recurring theme for many sides this year, a stronger team would’ve punished such defensive frailties.

Having not even been considered a dark horse in most circles prior to the competition beginning, the Flying Dutchmen will fancy their chances of springing a shock after achieving lift-off in America’s Space City.

But if they are to manage such a feat they need to cut out the sloppiness at the back before the Round of 32 stage begins in earnest.

If they do that then maybe, just maybe, they can finally seal their first ever World Cup crown. Otherwise, the Netherlands will risk exiting the World Cup without a long-awaited triumph.

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