Graham Potter believes Sweden’s 5-1 loss to the Netherlands can be a studying curve for the remainder of the World Cup.
Potter watched his facet undergo a crushing defeat at Houston Stadium on Saturday, with Brian Brobbey and Cody Gakpo scoring twice for Ronald Koeman’s facet.
By the point Anthony Elanga pulled one again within the 59th minute, the Netherlands had been already 4 factors forward, however Crisencio Somerville added extra sparkle for Oranje within the closing phases.
The end result marks the primary time Sweden has misplaced a World Cup match by greater than three factors since 1958, after they misplaced 5-2 to Brazil within the closing on house soil.
And though Sweden received every of their first three matches, they’ve since received simply two of the 15 matches they performed towards European nations within the World Cup group stage (D5 L8).
Sweden stay in a superb place to advance from Group F with a 5-1 win over Tunisia, who will face Japan in Monterrey on Saturday.
Coach Potter lamented his workforce’s incapability to defend towards the Dutch risk in huge areas, however is assured they’ll flip issues round of their subsequent match towards Japan.
“Clearly, it was actually disappointing. It was powerful to investigate. We did a whole lot of good issues,” Potter mentioned.
“We attacked and had some good probabilities, however we won’t concede so many objectives and we need to win. We are going to be taught so much from this recreation.
“We performed towards a superb workforce, we had been damage in huge areas and the primary purpose we conceded was from a protracted ball that we did not react properly to.
“The primary interval wasn’t an ideal begin, however (we) got here again late within the first half.
“We began the second half properly, however we misplaced the ball, conceded two objectives and misplaced the sport.
“The gamers stored working, and that is one factor we’ll be taught so much from.”
Large loss in Houston.
5-1 | #FIFA World Cup pic.twitter.com/VIPnb2A2d7
— Swedish Soccer (@svenskfotboll) June 20, 2026
In the meantime, the Netherlands stay unbeaten of their final 14 World Cup matches since dropping to Spain within the 2010 closing (9 wins, 5 attracts, excluding penalties).
This was by far the longest run for any nation within the competitors’s historical past, with Sunderland’s Blobby taking middle stage as he joined Koeman’s line-up.
Blobby turned the second Dutch participant to attain twice in his first World Cup begin, after Johnny Rep in 1974 towards Uruguay.
He additionally scored the second-fastest purpose ever scored by the Netherlands in a gap World Cup match, after Philippe Cocu’s purpose towards Mexico in 1998 (3 minutes, 59 seconds).
Nonetheless, Koeman insisted that enhancements had been wanted sooner or later, saying: “It is an ideal end result, however it may be even higher.”
“Then you definitely play an ideal recreation, and this recreation was just about like that.
“You may see moments if you win 5-1 and so they begin taking part in in a different way and you’re taking too lengthy to acknowledge it. So that you get into a bit bit an excessive amount of hassle earlier than the break.”
Koeman additionally mentioned that though he knew the match towards Sweden was an essential match, his gamers’ efficiency confirmed they weren’t below stress after the 2-2 draw with Japan.
“So there was extra stress to win this recreation. We knew it was a must-win recreation,” Koeman added. “However I did not really feel nervous in any respect.
“As a coach, after a primary recreation like this, you get a really feel for the way individuals are working and what the gamers’ opinions are. Then you already know issues are getting in the fitting course.”
