Can the Netherlands win a first World Cup with Brian Brobbey up front? His goals are doing the talking | OneFootball

Brian Brobbey has three goals in three games, the Netherlands’ top scorer, after a 3-1 win over Tunisia closed an impressive World Cup group stage in Kansas City.

NY Times notes that the 24-year-old Sunderland forward kept his player-of-the-match duties terse, saying he was simply in the right place for the goal.

He called it striker’s instinct, said the rain did not bother him and wondered if the award was even worth celebrating.

That directness jars with the classic Dutch ideal of the elegant, forthright number nine. In October 2024 Marco van Basten criticised his basics and even questioned Ajax’s academy.

At this tournament, his aggression has told. He tormented Sweden defender Isak Hien in a 5-1 win in Houston, then troubled Tunisia as Ellyes Skhiri scored an own goal and lost him for the second.

Only Lionel Messi, Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland have more goals. The Dutch have 10 from 40 attempts and an xG of 4.66, underlining how clinical they have been.

Ronald Koeman sounded cautious, citing sloppy moments, slow transitions and Hazem Mistrouri’s header conceded from a corner. He said they must improve if they want to keep progressing.

The Dutch are among four group winners drawn against runners-up, meeting Morocco in Monterey in the round of 32. Morocco are seventh in the FIFA rankings and reached the 2022 semi-finals. Win and South Africa or Canada follow, then possibly France or Germany. Brobbey called it a nice battle.

Source: NY Times