The Netherlands' hopes of qualifying automatically for Euro 2016 were ended with a 3-0 defeat in Turkey. Burak Yilmaz added a final nail in the coffin which means the Dutch can only finish third in Group A and only qualify through the play-offs.
However, to finish third they need to rely on Turkey dropping points in their last two games, away to Czech Republic and home to Iceland, meaning the fate of the Dutch side is now out of their own hands, they need to perform far better in their last game away to Czech’s on October 13th.Also losing 1-0 to Iceland on the previous Thursday they have slid down to fourth in their group. "This whole qualification campaign has been incredibly difficult," said striker Robin van Persie. "We still have a chance, but it is no longer in our hands and that is terrible.''
The Netherlands were top seeds in Group A and were expected to qualify with ease after their displays at the last two World Cups. They were runners up in South Africa in 2010 losing 1-0 to Spain in extra time when Iniesta scored the latest winning goal in a FIFA World Cup final, 116 minutes.in Brazil last year they were very strong, winning all three group games, including a 5-1 mauling of holders Spain. Eventually knocked out on penalties by Lionel Messi’s Argentina after a hard fought goalless draw. They went on to batter hosts Brazil 3-0 with goals from van Persie, Daley Blind and Wijnaldum in the third place play-off.
Iceland have done fantastically this campaign as rank outsiders in a group that contained European heavyweights the Netherlands and habitual tournament sides Turkey and the Czech Republic, Iceland produced shock after shock under the helm of management duo of Lars Lagerbäck and Heimir Hallgrímsson.
Iceland kicked off with a great 3-0 win against Turkey in their opening game, a big surprise in itself, but beating the once mighty Dutch 2-0 at home and 1-0 away was massive. "When I started playing football, I never even dreamed this could happen," said Iceland captain Aron Gunnarsson as Iceland reached their first major finals.
The defeat in Turkey was the Netherlands' heaviest competitive defeat since 1996, when they were battered 4-1 by England at Wembley in Euro '96, and it is proof of how far the Dutch have fallen since van Gaal left to take over at Manchester United in May 2014.
At first look, Netherlands' squad seems largely the same with experienced stars like Robin van Persie, Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben still in the line up joined by younger starlets such as Daley Blind, Georginio Wijnaldum and Memphis Depay .
So what has gone wrong for the men in orange? The management issue for one, succeeding Van Gaal after the World Cup, Hiddink seemed unable to motivate his men. Maybe the transition from an authoritarian style of management to a relaxed style was too big a change. Then Danny Blind taking over from Hiddink, after bad results, during the campaign was too disruptive. There is also the question of players willing to rally behind a young and unproven manager such as Blind senior.Or maybe, just maybe the harsh truth is that the veteran frontline might just be past their prime? This Dutch team has repeatedly been called the "laughing stock" of Europe by its own press and supporters. With France so close geographically, the summer of 2016 was supposed to be one big orange party.
I’m not sure if I would like a tournament without the Dutch. The orange army creates a good atmosphere in games and they can be entertaining. On the other hand the fewer power-house rivals the better England’s chances.
Will Netherlands ever be able to return to their former glories? Not for quite a while, if the fans' and media's reactions are to be believed.
Source: DSG
