Netherlands were exactly what wildcard managers wanted to see. A 5-1 win over Sweden, Cody Gakpo and Brian Brobbey both scoring twice, and a MD3 fixture against Tunisia sitting there like a big orange trapdoor.
The scoreline was brutal on Sweden, because they did create chances. But fantasy does not care about sympathy. Netherlands had the cleaner attacking moments, punished the box properly and suddenly look like one of the main teams people will target for MD3.
Here are the Demon Notes from Netherlands 5-1 Sweden: Gakpo's monster return, Brobbey's brace, Dumfries attacking from full-back and why Dutch picks are going to be popular on wildcard.
Netherlands 5-1 Sweden
- Goals: Gakpo x2, Brobbey x2, Summerville | Elanga
- Assists: Gakpo, Dumfries x2, Gravenberch x2, Summerville, Depay | Isak
- Top fantasy points: Cody Gakpo 19, Brian Brobbey 15, Crysencio Summerville 12
- Next fixtures: Netherlands v Tunisia, Sweden v Japan
- MD3 angle: Netherlands will be popular, but rotation needs checking
Team Stats
Player Stats
| Player | Pos | Price | MD2 pts | Match stats | MD3 note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cody Gakpo | FWD | £7.7m | 19 | 2 goals, 1 assist, 7 shots, 5 on target | Best Dutch attacker in our MD3 numbers |
| Brian Brobbey | FWD | £5.7m | 15 | 2 goals, 2 shots on target, 1.13 xG | Huge value if he starts again |
| Crysencio Summerville | MID | £5.3m | 12 | Goal, assist, 2 shots on target | Fun punt, but minutes need checking |
| Denzel Dumfries | DEF | £5.7m | 8 | 2 assists, 4 key passes | Classic attacking defender route |
| Ryan Gravenberch | MID | £6.1m | 3 | 2 assists | Better football pick than fantasy headline |
| Viktor Gyokeres | FWD | £7.8m | 3 | 10 shots, 5 on target, 0.96 xG | Still dangerous, but Japan is no easy captain spot |
Demon Notes
- Gakpo (£7.7m) is the one everyone will notice first. Two goals, an assist and 19 points is a proper statement, and Tunisia in MD3 makes him an obvious shortlist pick.
- Brobbey (£5.7m) is the value question. If he starts again, he is cheap enough to unlock premium midfielders and still give you real goal threat. The danger is minutes if Netherlands rotate after such a strong result.
- Dumfries (£5.7m) looked like Dumfries. Two assists from defence is exactly why fantasy managers keep going back to him in tournament games.
- Summerville (£5.3m) was brilliant value on the night, but he is not a blind buy. The role and minutes matter more than the 12-point score.
- Sweden actually had chances. Gyokeres (£7.8m) had 10 shots and Isak (£8.0m) assisted Elanga, so this was not a total attacking collapse. It was a defensive one.
What It Means For MD3
Netherlands face Tunisia in MD3 and they are going to be popular, especially on wildcard. Gakpo is the clean pick because he has form, xPts and a strong role. Dumfries is the attacking defender. Brobbey is the cheap striker if the team news holds.
The only warning is qualification and rotation. Netherlands are in a strong position now, so do not build a full wildcard around Dutch players without checking expected lineups. One or two makes sense. Three needs confidence.
Sweden still have Japan next and need a response. Gyokeres and Isak are not dead picks, but the defensive mess makes Sweden harder to trust. If you are wildcarding, Netherlands are the easier side to attack.
Verdict: Gakpo is the standout MD3 Dutch pick. Dumfries is the defender with upside. Brobbey is the value gamble. Just make sure they are expected to start before locking a wildcard around them.