It's Sweden versus the Netherlands, but also the duel between one of the world's best centre-backs and one of the world's most talented strikers. Add van de Ven to that equation and it doesn't get much hotter.
When Isak tricked van Dijk in March 2025 and netted when Newcastle won the League Cup final, Liverpool's interest in the Swede increased - he was signed last summer in a high-profile, lengthy billion-dollar deal.
In fact, Isak is one of the strikers van Dijk has had the most difficulty with in the Premier League.
In December, Tottenham's van de Ven made a tackle that forced Isak to undergo surgery and a several-month injury layoff.
Towards my best self
Isak showed against Tunisia in the World Cup opener that he is close to his very best self again. That will be required against Virgil van Dijk. Swedish wingback Gabriel Gudmundsson holds van Dijk in high regard.
I think he's absolutely world-class. You can just look at the statistics, how many goals he scores from corners and free kicks. So that's definitely something we have to try not to give away too easily.
Gudmundsson is doing his best to put pressure on the Netherlands, who are the favourites.
There are world-class players in almost every position. They are confident on the ball and heavy on set pieces, so it will of course be a completely different match. They will put a lot more pressure on us.
I think they will have to chase a little more; I think they need the win more. We can relax a little more and maybe not have to chase. I think it can benefit us to hit from below a little bit.
“Very good football country”
Benjamin Nygren is also a fan of Dutch football.
I like Holland and the football that is played there. Many young players get to play there, talents that are developing. It's a very good football country.
At the same time, he praises Isak and Viktor Gyökeres.
Some of the first two you would have handpicked if you had to choose. Two world-class players. It's awesome to play with them.
Nygren on Gyökeres:
Viktor is incredibly good at holding up the ball, has an incredibly strong turn and must be difficult for the opponent to face.
About Isak:
He can do everything, incredibly technical, good touch, intelligent, finds space. They complement each other really well.
Does it give you more options as an attacking midfielder?
When you have two such good strikers, the defenders get a lot of focus on them. Then I try to come from behind. I'm always there and always make the runs and come in as a threat too. The more players we get into the box, the more threats we have, says Nygren.
+ It's easy to argue that the Netherlands is the best national team in the world never to have won a World Cup. The Dutch men's team has been to three World Cup finals (1974, 1978, 2010) and five World Cup semi-finals but has never gone all the way. On the women's side, they have also lost a World Cup final (2019).
+ The proud football nation has two European Championship gold medals (the men's in 1988 and the women's in 2017) as its main achievements, but hopes - as usual - that this year will be the year when the first world championship title comes.
+ The Netherlands went through the World Cup qualifiers without losing a single match. In a group that included Poland, Finland, Malta and Lithuania, the Dutch finished first after six wins, two draws (both against Poland) and a convincing 27–4 goal difference.
+ The team's top scorer in qualifying (eight goals) was Memphis Depay. The Corinthians star has had injury problems but came into the opener against Japan (2–2) and could be in contention to start against Sweden.
