Key events<\/p>\n
More from the two coaches.<\/p>\n
Ronald Koeman. \u201cI\u2019ve spent a lot of years in football in the Netherlands<\/a> as a player and a coach. Of course, there is some pressure but we\u2019re used to that. I think that as the Netherlands we always have the support of our fans and hopefully we can celebrate three points tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n Graham Potter: \u201cIt\u2019s about how we perform and the mentality we have. We know that we are a work in progress and we\u2019re improving. We have to play better against a better opponent and I think we\u2019re ready to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n That Swedish formation? 3-4-1-2? And the Dutch is the customary 4-3-3? Micky van der Ven as left-back, as needs must. Or at least Koeman prefers.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n So, De Jong is fit, and will start for the Netherlands<\/a>.Memphis Depay \u200bstarts on \u200cthe bench, Quinten Timber out \u200cwith concussion. Gyokeres and Isak lead Sweden attack. Yasin Ayari starts in midfield after scoring two goals against Tunisia.<\/p>\n De Jomg profile<\/a>Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.05 EDT<\/p>\n The teams<\/p>\n Netherlands: Verbruggen, Dumfries, van Dijk, van Hecke, van de Ven, Gravenberch, de Jong, Reijnders, Malen, Brobbey, Gakpo. Subs: Flekken, Roefs, Ake, Geertruida, Hato, Kluivert, Koopmeiners, Lang, Depay, de Roon, Summerville, Til, Weghorst, Wieffer.<\/p>\n Sweden: Nordfeldt, Lagerbielke, Hien, Lindelof, Karlstrom, Bernhardsson, Nygren, Ayari, Gudmundsson, Gyokeres, Isak. Subs: Zetterstrom, Viktor Johansson, Herman Johansson, Bergvall, Svensson, Elanga, Sema, Ekdal, Starfelt, Svanberg, Smith, Zeneli, Stroud, Nilsson, Ali.<\/p>\n Referee: Michael Oliver (England)<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The Sweden<\/a> coach, Graham Potter, has been talking about Alexander Isak, who scored against Tunisia: \u201cAlex has had a season that has been interrupted,\u201d Potter said. \u201cMost football players would say they need a certain amount of time and games to get up to top, top level, so we\u2019ve had to try to build Alex up. I think there\u2019s more to come from him.\u201d<\/p>\n Sweden head coach Rip Wheeler from Yellowstone Graham Potter. Photograph: Petter Arvidson\/BILDBYR\u00c5N\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.40 EDT<\/p>\n Joe Pearson gets in touch: \u201cIn progressive rock circles, Sweden<\/a> is one of the leading countries of the genre, with artists such as The Flower Kings, Opeth, and Samla Mammas Manna all arising from there. Norway has also stuck its toe in, with the very fine Wobbler and less-mentioned Motorpsycho. On the whole though, I\u2019ve got to give the advantage to Sweden. I mean, they\u2019ve got \u00c4nglag\u00e5rd and Anekdoten on the bench!\u201d<\/p>\n Dutch prog? I\u2019m thinking Focus.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Koeman has also been talking about the 2-2 draw with Japan.<\/p>\n \u201cFirst of all, the impact or influence of the substitutions \u200bwas not positive and I am accountable for \u200cthat of course. I accept criticism towards me. It\u2019s not an issue. I took my decision because I \u200cspoke with my staff. I also made clear what I did want to change. We should have pressed more, high on the pitch, and we were not able to do<\/p>\n On Sweden: \u201cThey are pacy, they are strong and they are able to find the net,\u201d Koeman said. \u201cSo we will focus on them, we\u2019ll pay attention to them. But we have to focus on the entire Swedish team. They performed well on the pitch.\u201c<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Some early team news: Frenkie de Jong is a doubt for the Netherlands<\/a> after colliding with Quinten Timber, who came on as a substitute in a 2-2 draw against Japan in Texas, and is definitely out with mild concussion.<\/p>\n Ronald Koeman was not happy, as these quotes suggest: \u201cThere was a collision which caused a light concussion, so Quinten will not play this match. After this match, he might be ready.<\/p>\n \u201cBut Frenkie also had minor complaints about his physical condition… let\u2019s see how he will be tomorrow.<\/p>\n Koeman would only De Jong\u2019s injury was \u201cbelow his abdomen \u2026 Quinten tripped and this caused an injury for Frenkie. I have already explained quite a lot about his injury.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.19 EDT<\/p>\n So, what\u2019s it actually like out there? Hear from our writers, in alphabetical order.<\/p>\n double quotation markThe mid-west charm in Kansas City is a reminder that the US is more than what you see on the news. The extreme weather\u2019s tough, though. Last Saturday brought heat and high levels of humidity in the afternoon, then tornado warnings in the evening. It\u2019s quite hard not to eat meat here. It feels like chicken is the vegetarian option. Are people interested in the football? It\u2019s mixed. The USMNT\u2019s opening game was on in our hotel lobby. A group of Americans were watching baseball on another TV and occasionally came over to check the score. But then I\u2019ve just met a Chelsea fan during the Mexico v South Korea game<\/a>. He knew his football. Jacob Steinberg<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Have a read of Football Daily. Turkey out, if not the first team out. That was Haiti. Still, I fancy Turkey to do well one day.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.05 EDT<\/p>\n The group table, as it stands.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Last time out, the team\u2019s opening matches. <\/p>\n Share<\/a>Preamble<\/p>\n Houston, we have an all-European tie to consider. This is a tough group, and Sweden\u2019s opening show against Tunisia was impressive. The Dutch team fought out a high-quality draw with Japan. The magic four points is within reach for both, particularly with Tunisia to face in the last group game for the Dutch. Sweden\u2019s win got Tunisia\u2019s coach sacked, and if Ronald Koeman is safe, a defeat here will cause him considerable trouble. Sweden have found a formula in Alexander Isak and Viktor Gy\u00f6keres worked wonders while Yasin Ayari was superb. The Dutch were denied by Daichi Kamada at the conclusion of a 2-2 draw where they, typically, started slowly. The three-times losing finalists against the one-time losing finalist (1974, 1978 and 2010 v 1958) is a meeting of World Cup<\/a> heritage, a heavyweight clash.<\/p>\n Kick-off is 6pm UK\/1pm ET, 12pm Central\/3am AEST. Join me.<\/p>\n