Swedes suffer midsummer hangover in Dutch World Cup drubbing

Sweden's national soccer team faced a harsh reality check on Saturday, succumbing to a decisive 5-1 defeat against the Netherlands in the World Cup. The loss turned a national holiday, Midsummer's Eve, into a "cruel soccer hangover" for the country.

Fans who gathered at Stockholm's Olympic Stadium to watch the match saw their hopes quickly dashed when Brian Brobbey scored for the Netherlands just five minutes into the game. The Dutch continued to dominate, with Brobbey and Cody Gakpo each netting two goals. Sweden's only consolation was a second-half goal from substitute Anthony Elanga.

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We are disappointed. It's so bad - no will, no passion, nothing, it's like a regular game.

"We are disappointed. It's so bad - no will, no passion, nothing, it's like a regular game," said Sweden fan Robin Mert. Striker Viktor Gyokeres echoed the sentiment, stating, "There are sour feelings. Everyone has to be better at everything."

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There are sour feelings. Everyone has to be better at everything.

Sweden's coach, Graham Potter, acknowledged the team's initial plan was disrupted by the early setback. "The plan was (to play) how we started, but then, as they say, you get a smack in the face and you have to change your plan," he told reporters. The Dutch team effectively exploited the space between Sweden's defense and goalkeeper, repeatedly driving the ball across the face of goal.

Despite falling from the top of Group F to third place, Sweden still has a chance to qualify for the knockout stages. Their upcoming match against Japan is now critical. "When you get a good result everything goes sky-high and great, and when you don't get a good result, everything goes quite negative quickly, it's just part of what it is," Potter commented. "Now we have to make sure that we get the balance right, and that we also learn from what happened tonight and face the next game, which is Japan."

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The plan was (to play) how we started, but then, as they say, you get a smack in the face and you have to change your plan. We adjusted things a little bit in that first (hydration) break and that helped us.

Fans, however, remain hopeful. "Now we're go for Japan - anything can happen, and we have a lot of faith in Potter and the guys," fan Caroline Strand told TV4, showing resilience despite the midsummer disappointment.

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When you get a good result everything goes sky-high and great, and when you don't get a good result, everything goes quite negative quickly, it's just part of what it is. Now we have to make sure that we get the balance right, and that we also learn from what happened tonight and face the next game, which is Japan.