What a moment for Anthony Elanga at the World Cup.
A shame that Sweden had already just gone 4-0 down before his introduction.
The Newcastle United winger was one of three subs brought on with 56 minutes gone and a few minutes later the ball was in the back of the Netherlands net.
Sweden on the transition and Anthony Elanga moving into a central position and with three Dutch players around him it made no difference. Alexander Isak with the through ball and the United star running from the halfway line with no opposition player able to live with his pace, Elanga finishing off with an unstoppable left foot drive into the roof of the net.
A glimpse of future possibilities for both Newcastle United and Sweden…?
It wasn’t just the goal, Anthony Elanga producing an excellent overall cameo off the bench as he produced other great moments and bits of skill that shows how good he can be.
Get him in the right positions, use his pace, then as a confidence player give him the platform to perform and certainly in the case of Newcastle United, hopefully regain that confidence.
Anyway, Sweden went on to lose 5-1 in a match where Netherlands opened them up easily time after time.
No doubt that Sweden’s strengths are in attack and interesting to see if Graham Potter will give Anthony Elanga his first start at this World Cup when they play Japan in the early hours of Friday morning (UK time).
BBC Sport asked visitors to their site to give player ratings and these were the top three for Sweden:
7.92 Anthony Elanga
6.33 Viktor Gyokeres
6.14 Alexander Isak
Interesting as well to look at what was said on BBC Sport’s match thread after Anthony Elanga’s introduction:
BBC Sport: ‘Game on? Maybe not. But goal difference back on track perhaps. Anthony Elanga has only been on the pitch around four minutes but latches onto a brilliant through-ball from Alexander Isak to race away from the Dutch defence and keep his cool to apply a brilliant finish past Bart Verbruggen. He’s outstripped Micky van de Ven for pace there.’ Extraordinary.
Alan Shearer: “Once Isak started his run no one was going to catch Anthony Elanga; it was just about trying to find the right pass and weight of pass had to be correct – and it was. It is a clever finish from Elanga, he keeps his calm.”
Chris Sutton: “Electric from Anthony Elanga… the pace. The weight of the pass from Alexander Isak is exceptional. Elanga lifts it superbly. It’s a stunning finish.”
BBC Sport: “Anthony Elanga might not end up on the winning side today but he has a nice showreel to show for it. His wonderful finish after blazing into space and now an impudent back-hell through the legs of Micky van de Ven on the touchline to burst past him into the box, though his cross came to nothing.”
Chris Sutton: “Anthony Elanga has looked so explosive since he’s come on. Brilliant skill on the byline.”
Go to 6.11 to watch the Anthony Elanga goal:
BBC Sport: ‘Utter genius from Elanga. Playing like a man possessed.”
Chris Sutton: “You don’t often see Micky van de Ven unsettled but Anthony Elanga certainly has unsettled him.”
Elsewhere, Germany progressed to the knockout stages with a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast. Undav off the bench to turn it around with two goals, United pair Nick Woltemade and Malick Thiaw were unused subs.
The 2026 World Cup group games schedule for Newcastle United players:
Saturday 13 June
Morocco 1 Brazil 1 (Bruno Guimaraes assist for Vinicius Jnr equaliser)
Sunday 14 June
Curacao 1 Germany 7 (Malick Thiaw and Nick Woltemade unused subs)
Monday 15 June
Tunisia 1 Sweden 5 (Anthony Elanga introduced in the 91st minute when Sweden led 4-1)
Wednesday 17 June
Portugal 1 DR Congo 1 (Yoane Wissa with a brilliant headed goal to equalise just before the break)
Croatia 2 England 4 (Dan Burn an unused sub as England entertain!)
Saturday 20 June
Haiti 3 Brazil 0 (Bruno Guimaraes stars in comfortable win)
Ivory Coast 1 Germany 2 (Malick Thiaw and Nick Woltemade were unused subs)
Netherlands 5 Sweden 1 (Anthony Elanga brought on at 4-0 down and scored a cracking goal)
Tuesday 23 June
Ghana v England (Dan Burn) World Cup group match 9pm BBC
Wednesday 24 June
Scotland v Brazil (Bruno Guimaraes) World Cup group match 11pm BBC
Colombia v DR Congo (Yoane Wissa) World Cup group match 3am ITV
Thursday 25 June
Ecuador v Germany (Malick Thiaw, Nick Woltemade) World Cup group match 9pm BBC
Friday 26 June
Japan v Sweden (Anthony Elanga) World Cup group match 12am BBC
Saturday 27 June
Panama v England (Dan Burn) World Cup group match 10pm ITV
Sunday 28 June
Uzbekistan v DR Congo (Yoane Wissa) World Cup group match 12.30am BBC