Sweden aim to stay on high as they prepare for Dutch with a point to prove

[p]A victory would ‌put the Swedes - who thrashed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/tunisia/QqZVYk95/"]Tunisia[/a] 5-1 in their opener - through to the knockout rounds in a ‌reversal of fortunes for a team that only qualified for the tournament ‌via the European playoffs.[/p][p]The Dutch were undefeated in qualifying for the tournament but an unsatisfying ‌2-2 draw with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/japan/ULXPdOUj/"]Japan[/a] raised questions about whether coach [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/koeman-ronald/vHeYAvb2/"]Ronald Koeman[/a] got ‌his tactics right when reverting to a defensive set-up late in the match before conceding in the 89th minute.[/p][p]After sometimes playing too passively against Japan, the Dutch know they require a vastly ‌improved performance against a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sweden/OQyqbHWB/"]Sweden[/a] side revitalised under English ⁠coach Graham Potter and brimming with confidence ‌after scoring their most goals in a World Cup game since 1938.[/p][embed guid="838590b8-a416-4da7-a628-f0b6dda74373" url="https://x.com/OnsOranje/status/2067307371022491795" social-type="twitter" /][p]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/netherlands/WYintcWb/"]Netherlands[/a] have dangerous ​players such as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gakpo-cody/pWyuBud0/"]Cody Gakpo[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/de-jong-frenkie/A1F3rz9c/"]Frenkie de Jong[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/dumfries-denzel/QR0j1ejk/"]Denzel Dumfries[/a], who can provide the danger that was missing against Japan.[/p][p]One concern is whether ​the Netherlands' all-time top goal-scorer [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/depay-memphis/zo1h8MrD/"]Memphis Depay[/a] - who came off the bench but failed to make an impact - can shake off recent thigh trouble to offer pace ⁠and guile to break down ​a compact Sweden defence.[/p][p][b]"Memphis is almost ready,"[/b] Koeman said following the Japan match. [b]"I can feel he's coming, and then I put him on the pitch, but we couldn't attack anymore."[/b][/p][p][b]"I'm aware that we need to play better,"[/b] he added.[/p][p]Sweden enter [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/netherlands-WYintcWb/sweden-OQyqbHWB/?mid=0rAjVxuo"]the match ‌in Houston[/a] knowing another win puts them in a position to finish top of the group under Potter, who took over last October and guided the team to the World Cup.[/p][p]Potter - who replaced a riskier attacking style with a more pragmatic system with five defenders - will also be buoyed that the duo of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/isak-alexander/p41IV42c/"]Alexander Isak[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gyokeres-viktor/zaBZ1xIk/"]Viktor Gyokeres[/a] each scored against Tunisia and look to be firing on all cylinders.[/p][p]They will play a key role in probing a Dutch backline anchored by captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/van-dijk-virgil/U59RNqOr/"]Virgil van Dijk[/a], who scored against Japan but looked less confident when ‌defending.[/p][embed guid="c6078517-8d82-4de0-befc-d26d7839977e" url="https://x.com/svenskfotboll/status/2066952755332132991" social-type="twitter" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ayari-yasin/vTrnQI0N/"]Yasin Ayari[/a] scored a brace for Sweden in the opener and will also give ​the Netherlands more food for thought, but it was Isak and Gyokeres ‌who posed the main threats as they both created a host of chances beyond their goals.[/p][p][b]"There were lots of positives for us in terms of stability. It was a good night to start the tournament,"[/b] Potter said. "[b]It’s a good start but that’s all it is. We face a different opponent in ⁠the next game. Saturday is a ⁠massive game for us."[/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/soccer/world/world-championship/"]Follow Sweden vs Netherlands and every 2026 World Cup match on Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p]