Sweden will learn from thrashing against Netherlands, coach says

Sweden must learn from their "slow start" and defensive lapses in their 5-1 World Cup defeat to the Netherlands, coach Graham Potter said Saturday. The Dutch secured a commanding victory with two goals from Brian Brobbey, two from Cody Gakpo, and one from Crysencio Summerville.

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We lost to the better team, for sure.

Potter admitted his team was beaten by the superior Dutch side, though he felt the scoreline was "a little harsh." He highlighted the impact of conceding early goals, which put Sweden on the back foot. However, he observed that his team improved after the first hydration break, making tactical adjustments that helped them create more chances.

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The scoreline's a little harsh on us, but sometimes that happens in football, especially with the quality of the opponent we face.

Despite the loss, Sweden remains on three points in Group F, with their final group match against Japan now critical for advancing to the knockout stage. Potter stressed the need for his team to be more clinical in front of goal, drawing a parallel to the Netherlands' efficiency. Sweden registered 16 attempts on goal compared to the Netherlands' 10, but struggled to convert their opportunities.

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We got off to not a good start, which then puts you behind in the game and then affects the mood.

"We'll cling to the positives and there will be some positives there, but at the same time, we also have to make sure we defend better than we did," Potter stated. He pointed to opportunities created and shots taken as areas to build upon, while acknowledging the need for better defensive organization and sharper finishing to compete in the remainder of the tournament.

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After the first break, we thought we did really well. We adjusted things a little bit, which made it better for us.