The Netherlands go into this match as favourites, but it’s Sweden who are fresh from a 5-1 win, so they’re the ones on cloud nine right now. This is a huge game in what is the tournament’s Group of Death, and here’s what you need to know ahead of it.
Teams to ‘Go Dutch’ and Split the Goals
Five of the last six between these two teams have had goals at both ends, the exception being the last time they played, ending in a 2-0 win for the Dutch.
But over the years, this game has thrown up plenty of high-scoring matches, such as a 3-2 win for Sweden in the 2011 Euros qualifying and a 2-2 draw all the way back in 2004.
The exact score here is anyone’s guess, but both teams to score looks pretty safe.
- Key Stat: Tunisia’s goal in that 5-1defeat allowed Sweden to maintain a 7-match run of both teams (BTTS) scoring. Before that, there were 3-2 and 3-1 wins over Poland and Ukraine, 2-2 and 1-1 draws against Greece and Slovenia, and 4-1 and 3-1 losses to Switzerland and Norway.
- Best Bet: ‘Yes’ on both teams to score
- Odds: 1.8 (at the time of writing)
Netherlands
The Netherlands will feel they should have won that first match against Japan and had one foot in the next round. But Japan’s perseverance in the late stages of the game paid off, and 2-2 was probably what both sides deserved.
This is a tough group with three very good teams in it, and if the Dutch fail to win this one, they’ll really be up against it, even though they have a weaker Tunisia side in their last match to come.
Virgil van Dijk added a goal to a good all-round display in the heart of defence against Japan, and as the man who is also the skipper, is arguably their key player.
- Player to watch: Virgil van Dijk – 6.0 to be shown a card / 7.5 to score anytime.
Sweden
Sweden were responsible for the second most comfortable win of the first round of matches, behind only Germany’s 7-1 win over Curacao, in beating Tunisia 5-1, a result that led to the sacking of coach Sabri Lamouchi after just one game, one of the topics covered in our World Cup round-up.
Premier League-based stars Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres were among the goals, but it was Yasin Akari who got two.
It puts Sweden in an excellent position thanks to their strong goal difference, and they know that a draw here will leave them in a strong position to make the next round.
- Player to watch: Viktor Gyokeres – 3.4 to score anytime / 8.0 to be first goalscorer
Did you know?
The Netherlands’ all-time record goalscorer is Memphis Depay with 52 goals. But he may have to wait for his chance to make it 53.
He was on the bench against Japan, coming on in the 70th minute, with his most telling contribution being the fact that he picked up a booking in just 20 minutes on the pitch.
