Nightmare for the Netherlands
Dutch chances of qualifying for Russia 2018 in jeopardy after 02 loss against Bulgaria
SOFIA:Netherlands skipper Arjen Robben described his team’s shock 2-0 World Cup qualifying defeat to Bulgaria as “a nightmare” as the three-time runners-up were left in danger of missing the 2018 finals.
The loss left the Dutch six points behind Group A leaders France, who beat Luxembourg 3-1, and down in fourth spot.
They are also three back from Sweden, who defeated Belarus 4-0, and two behind Bulgaria with just the group winners guaranteed a place in the finals in Russia.
“What can I tell you? We came here with good intentions, but it has become a nightmare,” 33-year-old Bayern Munich winger Robben said.
“We win together and we lose together. Now we’ll get shit all over us. It’s sad. I’m speechless. The first half was shocking.”
Bulgaria stunned the Dutch with two goals in the first 20 minutes, both coming from Spas Delev who opened his international account.
Delev pounced on a mistake by 17-year-old Matthijs De Ligt, Holland’s youngest debutant since 1931, who misjudged a pass and allowed the striker to slot the ball past Jeroen Zoet. Delev then made it 2-0 when he unleashed a stinging drive past Zoet.
Danny Blind’s Dutch dominated large parts of the rest of the game but were thwarted by a solid Bulgarian defence while Nikolay Mihaylov pulled off a super save in the second period to deny Davy Klaassen.
Bas Dost had a weak header saved by Mihaylov as the Netherlands were left contemplating missing a second successive major tournament having also failed to qualify for Euro 2016.
COACH SUMMONED
The Dutch football federation have summoned coach Blind for talks following the defeat.
“During an evening in which literally nothing went right, the Netherlands team lost 2-0 to Bulgaria” on Saturday, the federation said in a statement.
“It was a painful defeat in Sofia, during which the chances of the Netherlands qualifying for the World Cup diminished.”
Dutch newspapers pronounced the defeat a “debacle” for which coach Blind could be axed.
The daily Algmeen Dagblad said the federation had summoned him to appear for talks on Sunday. “It is evident that we have to talk,” the Dutch federation’s commercial director JeanPaul Decossaux told Dutch news agency ANP.
“We might get quick answers, or we might not. “But we have to take our time. Nothing good comes from rushing things.”
Following the defeat the team drop to fourth place in qualifying Group A from which only the group winners are guaranteed to qualify for the finals in Russia next year.
Failure to qualify, on the back of failure to reach the 2016 Euro finals, would be a major shock for one of the most successful footballing nations who have finished runner-up in the World Cup three times, most recently losing the 2010 final to Spain. They finished third in 2014.
The gamble to cap the teenager may have backfired but the federation backed Blind on this decision.
It said Blind’s squad was hit by injuries to key defenders with Virgil van Dijk, Jeffrey Bruma and Stefan de Vrij out of contention, leaving the coach with “a puzzle” to find replacements.
He “did not baulk” at the difficult choice to select de Ligt, it said. After the match Blind told journalists that the task of qualifying for Russia had become harder and questioned whether he was still the man for the job.
“I have to reflect on whether I am capable of getting us out of this jam,” he said. But he later told TV network NOS he wanted to keep his job. “If the KNVB (Dutch federation) do not take a decision, then I will still be coach on Tuesday,” he said.
SWEDEN CRUISE, UNBEATEN SWISS ON TRACK FOR RUSSIA
PARIS: Sweden crushed Belarus 4-0 to keep the pressure on their rivals in qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup as Switzerland remain unbeaten with a 1-0 win over Latvia.
Sweden now have ten points from five games to go provisionally top of Group A ahead of France who travel to Luxembourg later Saturday with little room for manoeuvre for group rivals the Netherlands, third with seven points, who play Bulgaria. The Swedes overpowered Belarus with visiting goalkeeper Andrei Gorbunov having a nightmare
in Solna as he bundled in two of the goals. Emil Forsberg scored twice, the first from the penalty spot after Marcus Berg was brought down by Igor Shitov in the box on 19 minutes. The Leipzig striker got the second four minutes after the break when the ball slipped though Gorbunov’s hands with the goalkeeper also fumbling in Marcus Berg’s third (57) before Isaac Kiese Thelin (78) completed the rout. 4-3 in a charity match for the Liverpool Football Club Foundation.
At the peak of his career, Gerrard — won the Champions League with Liverpool — was a target for some of the world’s leading clubs.
Yet he remained loyal to hometown club Liverpool until opting to go to Los Angeles. Even Real showed interested in him.
Figo, however, was in no doubt that Gerrard would have held his own among the ‘Galaticos’ in the celebrated Real team of his time in Madrid.
“The moment in life when we had the possibility to play together, that wasn’t possible. I think it is a pity because everyone wants to play with the best,” the Portuguese star said.
“I think Gerrard showed in his career he was one of the best footballers in his position. It was a pity but for Liverpool it was lucky because he could show his quality and talent here, at Anfield.”
ROONEY STILL HAS A ROLE TO PLAY: SCHOLES LONDON: England’s record goalscorer Wayne Rooney can still play an useful role for both his country and club Man United, his former teammate Paul Scholes told the BBC on Sunday.
“Wayne has been a sensational footballer for England and Manchester United for nearly 15 years. He is greatly respected and I still think he has a part to play with United and England,” the 42-year-old told the BBC.
“He has great experience, he can pass knowledge on to young players and it’s up to Gareth if and when he wants to use it. I don’t want to talk about him going to another English club, I hope he gets himself back into the United team.”
BALE COULD HAVE BROKEN MY LEG:
O’SHEA
DUBLIN: Republic of Ireland veteran John O’Shea believes he was fortunate to avoid a broken leg after being fouled by Gareth Bale during his side’s bruising against Wales.
Skipper Seamus Coleman sustained a sickening double leg break during Friday’s 0-0 draw.
Bale had earlier escaped with a yellow card after catching O’Shea high on the left leg and the Sunderland defender revealed the injury had required stitches.
“I was lucky considering what has happened to Seamus,” O’Shea told reporters.