The Dutch were a hit right away.
The Netherlands put on a display of passing, speed, movement, imagination and efficiency.
Neon fire-yellow high-visibility jackets were everywhere.
They came crashing down the middle and along the flanks, and it immediately exploded.
Brian Brobbey scored after five minutes to make it 1–0 from close range on Cody Gakpo's pass from the left.
Brobbey, who did not start against Japan, found himself in roughly the same position ten minutes later when Denzel Dumfries crossed from the right.
Potter: “A little change”
A water break/commercial break/tactics review has never been more timely. National coach Graham Potter took advantage of the time and changed to a four-back formation.
"We made some changes from a tactical perspective to get more opportunities to get into the areas we want to get into," said Potter in the halftime interview with TV4.
Immediately after:
The first, long Swedish attack resulted in a long throw-in from Gabriel Gudmundsson. Jesper Karlström got a nice strike - but hit Victor Nilsson Lindelöf in the face.
Whereupon Ayari, in a free position, tried to take the ball down but got it on his shoulder.
Suddenly, things happened.
Alexander Isak found Viktor Gyökeres who missed the duel with Jan Paul van Hecke. Shortly afterwards he did so, and Bart Verbruggen parried.
Ayari shot over while the Swedish fans got excited and chanted "In with the ball in the goal". It went in with a powerful header from Gustaf Lagerbielke.
The problem in Houston? The center back was in a delicate offside position.
Gyökeres forced Verbruggen into a difficult save on a free kick. Ayari's shot was tipped into a corner at the far post.
Sweden had several chances
The change of scene was, if not total, then noticeable, but the payoff was not there.
"I think the second part of the first half was good; we created good chances, good shots and good finishes, and we have to keep that up," said Potter.
Instead, the curtain went down just two minutes after the break, when Dumfries' diagonal cross was pushed in at the far post by Gakpo.
The Dutch mercilessly exploited the Swedish defensive weaknesses. Gakpo turned away Lagerbielke - who lacked support - and scored 4–0.
Potter threw in Lucas Bergvall, Anthony Elanga and Besfort Zeneli and took out Alexander Bernhardsson, Jesper Karlström and Benjamin Nygren.
The effect was immediate. Elanga's speed ran straight through Isak's pass and lifted the goal.
Every goal could be significant in securing a place in the round of 16.
Sweden had several chances to score more goals, but they didn't come.
Instead, Crysencio Summerville scored to make it 5–1.
The group stage ends against Japan on Friday at 1:00 AM in Dallas.
