Netherlands-Sweden ready to fire as Potter and Koeman look to the past

The Blågult made a blistering start to their tournament exploits against Tunisia, ruthlessly clinical in victory.

But the true litmust test of the Englishman's rescue mission will be found in Texas against the Netherlands.

Among the pre-tournament favourties for the FIFA World Cup 2026, the Dutch enjoyed a thriller with Japan.

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Arguably the best football nation to never win the sport's biggest prize, Ronald Koeman hopes it is his year.

The recipe, then, promises plenty of drama - but what are the plotlines to watch as it all unfolds stateside?

Potter chasing Raynor inspiration

Everybody remembers 1966 and all that. But eight years before Sir Alf Ramsey, he was beaten to the punch.

George Raynor didn't have the most auspicious of playing careers, with stints at Rotherham, Bury and Aldershot.

But he was the man who, in three separate stints, engineered Sweden's emergence as a football powerhouse.

Raynor guided them to Olympic gold in 1948 - and ten years later, to a World Cup final on home soil against Brazil.

Even then, his achievements were historic, successes that bucked the trend. For Potter, it is the touchstone.

Victory over the Netherlands - a side they have never beaten at a major tournament - could be the springboard too.

Koeman calls upon spirit of '88

The Oranje may have never won a World Cup, but their manager was at the heart of their lone triumph four decades ago.

Koeman was the rock-solid defender who helped usher the Netherlands to the 1988 European Championship crown.

There has always been a sense of cash in the bank for the star's reputation, even with his dugout misfires over the years.

But it is to that particular success that so much of their post-century hunger harks back towards, chasing big results.

For Sweden too, Koeman can point to the nation's quarter-final triumph against them on penalties back at Euro 2004.

There is, of course, little bearing upon results here. But football loves the romance of memory to drive it forward too.

Will Isak or Van Dijk win tussle?

There's always plenty of bite when it becomes clubmate against clubmate - and there's a doozy on the cards right here.

Alexander Isak never quite fired at Liverpool this past season, following a record-breaking move he agitated hard for.

But the Sweden forward was in fine form against Tunisia, and could cause some headaches for Virgil van Dijk at the back.

One of the most feted centre-backs of his generation, the latter has enjoyed brilliant success at club level with the Reds.

Yet just one major tournament last four - at Euro 2024 - represents something of a black mark given the national reputation.

A deep run - and indeed triumph - in this tournament this summer could prove fitting. But first, he must outfox Isak's threat.

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