Sweden Suffer Historic 5-1 Rout by the Netherlands at the World Cup

Sweden were thrashed 5-1 by the Netherlands on Saturday night, in what local media described as a nightmare and the national team’s heaviest World Cup defeat since 1950. The Swedish side had hoped to beat the Dutch, but never looked competitive against an Oranje team that pulled away quickly and dominated throughout.

Media outlets in Sweden did not hold back. One report said it was “90 minutes of absolute nightmare” and that the Netherlands “humiliated us completely” before scoring after just five minutes. Another broadcast said the Dutch were “chewing us up, crushing us and spitting us out,” adding that Sweden was being made into a joke and that the match looked like “the playground of the orange team.”

The defeat was Sweden’s worst at a World Cup since a 7-1 loss to Brazil in Rio in 1950, 76 years ago. It also meant Sweden missed a chance to clinch a place in the next round and remains on three points.

Sweden will now face Japan in its final Group 6 match, which will close out its group stage campaign.