Koeman: We'll watch Isak and Gyökeres, but they're not the only threat

Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman has vowed to better manage his substitutions when his side faces Sweden in a World Cup Group F clash on Saturday, admitting his changes in the opening match didn't have the desired impact.

The 'Oranje' are looking to get back to winning ways after a disappointing draw in their first match against Japan. Koeman took full responsibility for the late slip-up and stated he wanted his players to press higher up the pitch – something they failed to do in the 2-2 stalemate.

"Firstly, the impact or influence of the substitutions was not positive, and I, of course, bear responsibility for that," Koeman told reporters on Friday. "I accept criticism. That's not a problem. I made my decision because I spoke with my staff. I also clearly stated what I wanted to change. We needed to press more, high up the pitch, but we couldn't do it. We want to convey that message to the players," the former Barcelona player said.

Koeman believes his team's defenders need to pay attention to all of Sweden's players in the upcoming match, not just strikers Viktor Gyökeres and Alexander Isak. "They are fast, they are strong, and they are capable of scoring," Koeman said. "So we will focus on them, we will pay attention to them. But we need to focus on the entire Swedish team. They performed well on the pitch," he added.

The Netherlands will have to cope without Quinten Timber, who suffered a concussion after a collision with a teammate, while midfielder Frenkie de Jong is battling a stomach injury. Koeman also stated he wants to rely on the Netherlands' all-time leading scorer Memphis Depay, who has overcome recent thigh issues and couldn't make a significant impact against Japan after coming off the bench. "He is a player who can give us added value," Ronald Koeman affirmed.