PREVIEW: Sweden look to build on winning start to World Cup against Netherlands | OneFootball

Netherlands will face Sweden on Saturday evening in Texas as both sides look to strengthen their position in Group F and make progress towards the World Cup knockouts.

Ronald Koeman’s side head into the clash at the NRG Stadium in Houston on the back of an entertaining 2-2 draw against Japan in their opening match last Sunday, while their opponents are the only team to have won their opening match.

Dismantling Tunisia 5-1 saw Sabri Lamouchi become just the fifth manager to be sacked mid-tournament since it was first hosted by Uruguay in 1930. Former Saudi Arabia boss Hervé Renard has since replaced him.

The Dutch currently sit third in Group F on one point and are likely to qualify with four points should they lose their final group stage game against Tunisia and finish in third.

Crycensio Summerville impressed with a goal on his debut at the World Cup, and may well have cemented his position as a starter in Koeman’s set up, with Virgil van Dijk heading in their other goal in the draw with Japan.

The match marks only the second World Cup meeting between Netherlands and Sweden, with their previous group-stage encounter in 1974 ending goalless.

The Dutch have won 12 of their 25 meetings across all competitions against Sweden, suffering eight defeats in that time.

They finished as runners up in 2010 after losing in the final to Spain in South Korea, also having reached the final in 1974 and 1978 yet are arguably the most notable country to have never won the World Cup.

Netherlands could have an unchanged starting line-up as no injuries were reported against Japan.

Graham Potter’s Sweden head into the match in fine form after their five-star performance on Monday and are currently the leaders of Group F.

His team will put themselves in a very strong position to qualify for the round of 32 with a victory on their 13th World Cup appearance. Their spot would be confirmed if Japan then fail to beat Tunisia later on Saturday evening.

It is expected that Viktor Gyökeres and Alexander Isak will once again lead the line for Sweden after both forwards found the net against Tunisia in their previous outing.

Yasin Ayari was also a standout performer in that match, scoring an impressive brace for Sweden and he will be expected to join his teammates in the starting line up.

Their second group stage match of the World Cup at the Houston Stadium kicks off at 18:00 (BST) and will be live on BBC One and BBC iplayer.

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