Anthony Elanga put in a positive performance despite Sweden being hammered by the Netherlands in the World Cup
11:17, 21 Jun 2026Updated 11:21, 21 Jun 2026
Alan Shearer was impressed with Anthony Elanga’s contribution for Sweden(Image: Getty Images)
Anthony Elanga’s Sweden suffered major World Cup disappointment on Saturday as they were thrashed 5-1 by the Netherlands in Houston.
Graham Potter’s side became the first country in history to win their opening game by a four goal margin, after beating Tunisia 5-1 in their opening game of the competition, before losing their second match by a four goal margin.
But on an individual level, Elanga made a big impact from the bench for his country after having to settle for a place on the substitutes bench for the second game in succession.
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The Newcastle United star was introduced as a 56th minute substitute, with Sweden already 4-0 down, replacing right-wing-back Alexander Bernhardsen, and needed just three minutes to make an impact on the game.
Elanga made a clever run in behind the Dutch defence to latch on to an incisive through ball from former Newcastle forward Alexander Isak, taking the ball in the stride before firing beyond Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen with his left foot from point blank range.
It was a link-up that would have left Magpies supporters ruing what might have been on Tyneside, had Isak not pursued his British record transfer move to Liverpool last summer.
Anthony Elanga of Sweden celebrates with Alexander Isak after scoring the first goal for his team(Image: Sebastian Frej/Getty Images)
Elanga’s bright cameo from the bench continued just minutes later as he left Dutch left-back Micky van de Ven for dead before nutmegging him with a clever Cruyff turn to move into the box but his eventual cross was cleared away.
The moment left Newcastle legend Alan Shearer stunned while working in the commentary box for BBC Sport’s coverage of the game, as he gleefully let out a ‘whoops’ as he humiliated the Tottenham defender.
Potter’s 3-5-2 formation uses wing-backs and a front two, leaving natural winger, Elanga, struggling to break into the XI. Defensive question marks prevent him starting at wing-back, while the front two of Isak and Arsenal forward Viktor Gyokeres are irreplaceable.
But his positive performance from the bench was a bright spark on an otherwise dismal day for Swedish football and has surely given Potter food for thought when it comes to his team selection for their crucial final Group F game.
Sweden head into the game in third place on three points, one point adrift of the Netherlands and Japan, and take on the Japanese in Dallas in the early hours of Friday morning.
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