Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman pledged to better manage his bench when his team take on Sweden in a Group F World Cup match on Saturday, saying his substitutions in ​the opening fixture failed to generate the impact he had sought.

Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder and current NOS TV commentator Rafael van der Vaart apologized Wednesday after making an ill-advised comment while breaking down the Netherlands' 2-2 draw with Japan on Sunday.

The Netherlands remained perfect in Group E play with a 2-1 win over Cameroon on Thursday to advance to the Round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup. The Netherlands became the second team at the World Cup to win all three of its group matches.

Japanese soccer fans have gone viral once again for tidying up the stadium after their team’s World Cup soccer match against the Netherlands this week, only to prompt a meme criticizing the country’s men for not applying the same standards of behavior while at home.

Heavy rain and thunderstorms threaten to trigger a washout for soccer fans across Sweden on Saturday, as ​weather warnings loom for the millions planning to gather ‌outdoors to watch their team's World Cup clash.