Netherlands vs Sweden Predictions
Both teams impressed in their opening fixtures, but the Dutch have enough quality to edge past a dangerous Swedish side.
I'm backing the Netherlands to claim the points, while both teams to score also looks likely.
Goals Expected in Houston
- Netherlands have seen BTTS in 4 of their last 5 matches
- Netherlands won 6 of their last 9 matches (competitive fixtures)
- Netherlands won 3 of their last 5 matches against Sweden
- Sweden have seen BTTS in their last 7 matches
- Sweden lost 5 of their last 11 matches
Dutch Edge Sweden in H2H Record
Netherlands and Sweden have met on six occasions since 2004. Netherlands won three and lost only one of those fixtures.
Netherlands Let Victory Slip Against Japan
Netherlands face their second Group F fixture after a thrilling 2-2 draw against Japan last weekend.
Virgil van Dijk and Crysencio Summerville twice gave the Dutch the lead in the second half, but goals from Keito Nakamura and Daichi Kamada earned the Blue Samurai a share of the spoils.
The Oranje could have had few complaints with the outcome. Both teams finished with ten shots registered and respective xG’s of below one..
Koeman’s men have struggled to keep clean sheets in recent fixtures. The Dutch leaked at least one goal in six of their last seven games against opponents including Uzbekistan, Algeria, Ecuador and Poland.
Set to face Sweden for the first time since 2017, the Netherlands will be aiming to maintain their strong record in this fixture. The only previous World Cup meeting between the nations finished in a goalless draw at the 1974 finals.
Sweden Thrash Tunisia
Sweden make the trip to NRG Stadium with sky-high confidence following a sensational 5-1 thrashing of Tunisia in Monterrey.
Brighton playmaker Yasin Ayari bagged twice while Premier League forwards Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres both scored their first-ever World Cup goals.
Graham Potter’s side proved ruthless in front of goal, with their five strikes coming from a final xG of just 1.33.
Following a dismal World Cup qualification, the Swedes have found some form under the English boss. Sweden failed to win all six of their qualifiers before playoff wins against Ukraine and Denmark.
Like the Dutch, defensive vulnerabilities remain a concern. The Blue and Yellow conceded at least one goal in each of their last 12 games. Nine of those matches finished with both teams on the scoresheet.
Squads and Team News
Netherlands Squad
Goalkeepers: Bart Verbruggen, Robin Roefs, Mark Flekken
Defenders: Lutsharel Geertruida, Virgil van Dijk, Nathan Ake, Jan Paul van Hecke, Mats Wieffer, Micky van de Ven, Denzel Dumfries, Jorrel Hato
Midfielders: Marten de Roon, Justin Kluivert, Ryan Gravenberch, Tijjani Reijnders, Guus Til, Teun Koopmeiners, Frenkie de Jong, Quinten Timber
Forwards: Wout Weghorst, Memphis Depay, Cody Gakpo, Noa Lang, Donyell Malen, Brian Brobbey, Crysencio Summerville
Head coach Koeman is likely to name much of the same side that picked up a point against Japan.
Speaking to the assembled media after the draw with Japan, Koeman insisted he had no regrets about his tactical approach.
"There was also a problem with the pressure on the flanks," Koeman said. "If you look at both goals, we simply didn't defend well enough.
"Football can be a strange game. After Japan scored their second goal, they started defending much deeper, and we still had chances to score a third ourselves.
"That's why I don't regret my decisions. We created opportunities, but we have to defend better if we want to win matches at this level."
Sweden Squad
Goalkeepers: Jacob Widell Zetterstrom, Viktor Johansson, Kristoffer Nordfeldt
Defenders: Gustaf Lagerbielke, Victor Lindelof, Isak Hien, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Herman Johansson, Daniel Svensson, Hjalmar Ekdal, Carl Starfelt, Eric Smith, Elliot Stroud
Midfielders: Lucas Bergvall, Benjamin Nygren, Ken Sema, Jesper Karlstrom, Yasin Ayari, Mattias Svanberg, Alexander Bernhardsson, Besfort Zeneli
Forwards: Alexander Isak, Anthony Elanga, Viktor Gyokeres, Gustaf Nilsson, Taha Ali
Sweden boss Potter has no reported injury issues ahead of Saturday’s vital World Cup fixture.
Premier League forwards Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres are set to spearhead the Swedish attack after both impressed against Tunisia.