Netherlands 5-1 Sweden: After being touted as a big hit at the World Cup with their sensational attacking prowess, Graham Potter’s side slumped to a miserable night against their European rivals.
Alexander Isak had a difficult night for Sweden (Image: Getty Images)
It was a double act that was expected to provide all the entertainment at Virgil van Dijk’s expense. But the Swedish script was marred by a solo script, which was unprecedented on the biggest stage ever.
Forget about Alexander Isak and Victor Gokeres. And let’s take a bow to Brian Brobbey. Or “Mr. Blobby” as he is now known.
Two goals by the Sunderland striker, who was recalled to the starting XI by Dutch manager Ronald Koeman, were the subject of jokes not Van Dijk but the Swedish defender.
All the Liverpool captain and defensive lynchpin had to do was stand back and watch as Blobby, assisted by Cody Gakpo, sliced through the Swede’s defense like a knife through the country’s famous meatballs.
Mincemeat felt more appropriate because that’s how Mr Blobby described Aston Villa’s Victor Lindelof & Co. Unlike Isak and Gökeres, Blobby looked like a world-class forward. He demonstrated overwhelming pace and power from start to finish, making his name known to the world with his all-around performance.
Apart from the people watching from behind on Wearside, of course. Brobby may have only scored seven goals for Sunderland last season.
But it was the game that helped his team defeat arch-rivals Newcastle at St James’s Park in March that etched his name into club lore.
And while praise is currently pouring in his direction, there will be just as much criticism directed at Isak, Gökeres and Sweden coach Graham Potter.
Gökeres showed at least occasional signs of life. Isak created two chances for Gokeres before half-time, but the Arsenal forward squandered them.
Alexander Isak struggles with Liverpool teammate Virgil van Dijk (Image: Getty Images)
And once Sweden lost the game, it looked increasingly unlikely that these two would get the team back into the game. Isak’s most notable contribution came just before the hour mark, when he gave the ball to Holland, who allowed them to break through and put Gakpo 4-0.
And the most memorable for him was the match in Houston, where the Swede was left on the ground. “Houston has a solution” was the message written on a Dutch fan’s T-shirt.
But it’s Potter who must find the answer to one burning question being asked around the Swedish camp. Can Isak and Gökeres form a striking partnership that can take the team through the group stages and beyond?
Brian Brobbey shined in the match between Netherlands and Sweden (Image: Getty Images)
The hope of the nation rests on the shoulders of these two men. If this duo works well, it could be the most lethal offensive partnership of the entire tournament.
Isak and Gokeres cost their respective clubs a total of £190m last summer. And Potter believes the best is yet to come from the pair.
“They have different attributes,” he said, “and they complement each other well and I think together they can be a real threat.”
However, current evidence suggests that most of the Swedish supporters who made the long journey to Houston for free would strongly disagree.
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