Evening Standard
·20 Juni 2026
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·20 Juni 2026
European rivals clash in important Group F showdown in Houston
The World Cup action on a busy day 10 begins in Houston, where the Netherlands and Sweden lock horns in an important all-European clash in Group F. Sweden are currently in control of the group after demolishing Tunisia 5-1 last weekend, with Graham Potter’s side - who only reached these finals via the UEFA play-off route - showcasing their full attacking potential led by star strikers Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak, plus Brighton midfielder Yasin Ayari. It was a result that saw Tunisia sack head coach Sabri Lamouchi.
Sweden will be full of confidence and looking to guarantee a place in the last 32 as they face a far tougher challenge against the Dutch, who will still be ruing Japan’s last-gasp equaliser in an eventful 2-2 draw in Dallas. Ronald Koeman’s preparations for this game have been hit by an injury doubt concerning star midfielder Frenkie de Jong, with Quinten Timber also sidelined with concussion after an accidental training ground collision with team-mate Teun Koopmeiners.
Fail to win again today and the pressure will be ramped up, with Frenkie de Jong passed fit as Koeman swaps in Brian Brobbey for Crysencio Summerville. Sweden are unchanged. Follow the Netherlands vs Sweden live below!
Live updates
Final preparations at Houston Stadium, where the retractable roof will be closed and air conditioning put on for a comfortable match experience both on the pitch and in the stands.
By all accounts it is extremely hot in the city today, with thundery downpours expected.
But this match won’t be impacted at all.
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There are plenty of subplots and things to watch in this intriguing Group F fixture.
Chief among them for Tottenham fans will be how Micky van de Ven and Jan Paul van Hecke work together in the Dutch defence.
Spurs completed the £52m signing of Van Hecke from Brighton earlier this week and supporters will no doubt be keeping a close eye on his progress at the World Cup, where the absence of Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber due to injury has seen him guaranteed a starting berth alongside captain Virgil van Dijk in central defence.
Van de Ven is among the first names on the team sheet for Tottenham at centre-back, but plays at left-back at international level for the most part.
The decision to bench Crysencio Summerville appears to be causing much bemusement among Dutch fans on social media.
The West Ham winger impressed and scored an excellent goal against Japan as he played 70 minutes on what was only his third senior Netherlands cap.
If he’s fully fit, it seems a strange call from Ronald Koeman for a game his side could really do with winning.
There has been plenty more transfer speculation around Summerville today, with the former Leeds star now being linked with Arsenal, Manchester United, Tottenham, Aston Villa and Paris Saint-Germain, among other clubs, with his exit from the London Stadium looking inevitable.
Presumably it will be Brobbey through the middle for the Oranje in Houston, flanked either side by Gakpo and Malen.
As expected, Sweden are unchanged from their 5-1 drubbing of Tunisia in Monterrey.
That means that Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres and Liverpool’s record signing Alexander Isak are paired together in a lethal attack once more.
Brighton’s Yasin Ayari will hope to build on his two-goal haul in the opener from midfield, while Leeds’ Gabriel Gudmundsson has shaken off a knock to start along with Alexander Bernhardsson.
Also in midfield is Celtic’s Benjamin Nygren and Udinese captain Jesper Karlstrom.
Aston Villa defender Victor Lindelof captains Sweden and is joined at the back by Isak Hien and former Celtic man Gustaf Lagerbielke.
Goalkeeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt was once of Swansea City.
Ronald Koeman makes one change to the Netherlands side who were held to a last-gasp 2-2 draw by Japan in Dallas last weekend.
It comes in attack, where, despite scoring in the opener, West Ham’s Crysencio Summerville makes way for Sunderland forward Brian Brobbey, who joins Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo and former Aston Villa man Donyell Malen.
All-time top scorer Memphis Depay is a substitute once again after returning from a thigh injury.
Dutch fans will be relieved to see Frenkie de Jong fit to continue in his place in midfield alongside Liverpool star Ryan Gravenberch and Manchester City’s Tijjani Reijnders.
Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven is again at left-back, with new Spurs team-mate Jan Paul van Hecke continuing in central defence alongside captain Virgil van Dijk.
New Real Madrid signing Denzel Dumfries is at right-back as usual, with Brighton’s Bart Verbruggen in goal.
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Sweden XI: Nordfelt, Bernhardsson, Lagerbielke, Hien, Lindelof, Gudmundsson, Nygren, Karlstrom, Ayari, Isak, Gyokeres
Netherlands XI: Verbruggen, Dumfries, Van Dijk, Van Hecke, Van de Ven, De Jong, Gravenberch, Reijnders, Gakpo, Malen, Brobbey
The Netherlands team is out and it DOES contain Frenkie de Jong after all.
Full lineups on the way...
Despite their contrasting results in the opening Group F fixtures last weekend, Sweden boss Graham Potter is under no illusions as to the challenge facing his side today.
The Netherlands are a clear step up from Tunisia, most people’s pick to win the group and some to even win the whole tournament after reaching the semi-finals of Euro 2024, where they lost to England thanks to Ollie Watkins’ last-gasp goal.
“We know we have to improve if we are going to take anything from this match,” Potter said.
“Tunisia was a good night for us - a good game and a good victory - but with the greatest respect, we're playing against a high-level opponent, the best team in the group, one of the favourites for the tournament.
“At the moment, we're not in a place to dream. We're just working, trying to improve every day, trying to make sure the players are ready to play the game.
“As I said before the first game, we know if we're not right and not together and not playing to our strengths, we can lose any game of football at this level.
“At the same time, if we play to our strengths and we are together, we have a chance to win and that's how we have to focus.”
It’s fair to say that the Dutch fans have been enjoying themselves ahead of kick-off in Houston.
The always brilliant Oranje supporters have created their usual party atmosphere, joined by Netherlands legends such as Edwin van der Sar and Wesley Sneijder.
Always one of the best and most colourful fanbases at major tournaments.







































