Who is Brian Brobbey, the Netherlands striker who scored twice against Sweden? | OneFootball

Brian Brobbey struck twice as the Netherlands swept aside Sweden 5-1 in World Cup Group F, an early salvo that could alter his standing with the national team.

The 24-year-old scored in the fifth and 17th minutes in Houston on Saturday. L'Équipe notes that the display ran counter to long-standing criticism in the Netherlands.

Those goals in 12 minutes took his international tally from one to three. He had arrived with one in 13 caps, scored against Germany in September 2024. It might be a turning point, and he may now be pressing to start up front.

Since his first call-up in September 2022, he has started only five times. Wout Weghorst, Joshua Zirkzee, Memphis Depay and Donyell Malen were preferred, and he played one minute at Euro 2024, a 1-2 loss to England.

An Ajax academy product, he left for Leipzig in June 2021, aged 19. About 15 appearances, two starts and no goals later, he returned to Ajax and scored seven in half a season. He stayed three more years, netting 35 in 92 league games as doubts over his touch and finishing persisted.

In September 2023 Ronald Koeman said his first touch and finishing needed work, and months and 18 goals later he took him to Euro 2024 in Germany. Last summer Brobbey joined Sunderland, where he scored seven, the club’s top mark, and his hold-up play has suited the Premier League under Régis Le Bris. Guus Hiddink felt the criticism was excessive, while admitting he should score more, praising his first-touch creativity and ball retention. Minutes later, Brobbey underlined the point, twice.

Source: L'Équipe