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Netherlands fail to qualify for Euro 2016

If they are to win a playoff berth, the Dutch must beat the Czech Republic in Amsterdam on Tuesday and hope that Iceland beats third-placed Turkey.

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The Czech Republic scored twice in the first half before Robin van Persie, the Netherlands’ all-time leading goalscorer, scored an own goal in the 66th minute to effectively seal the result.

It is the first time Holland have failed to qualify for a major tournament since they missed the 2002 World Cup and the first time they have dialed to qualify for the European Championship finals since 1984.

“You have to look to the future now”, coach Danny Blind said.

Holland ‘s nightmare Euro 2016 qualifying campaign ended in disaster at home to the Czech Republic.

The only cause for optimism were the Kazakh opponents, who are tied with Luxembourg for No. 142 in FIFA’s world rankings and exactly one year ago lost to the Netherlands 3-1 at the Amsterdam Arena.

The victory ensured Turkey finished ahead of Netherlands in Group A and they also avoid the lottery of the playoffs, going through automatically as the competition’s best third-placed team.

Turkey only overtook Hungary because Kazakhstan won 1-0 at Latvia, Islambek Kuat scoring the only goal.

The Dutch dominated in the first half but only managed to find the net once, when Wijnaldum ran onto El Ghazi’s pass and slotted a low, left-foot shot into the bottom corner of the net in the 33rd minute.

Klass-Jan Huntelaar are Netherland’s top scorer with 4 goals in 7 matches and Borek Dockal with 4 goals, With the CzechRepublic already qualified Netherland still have to fight for there place in the final stages for Euro 2016.

Croatia also made it the finals with a 1-0 win over Malta, but it was touch and go until the closing moments.

With Turkey in form and determined to reach the Euro’s it is unlikely that they will suffer the defeat that is needed for Netherlands to qualify, but the Oranje need to do their job and defeat the Czechs. They played against Latvia and drew the match by 1-1.

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Gareth Bale, aptly, had the last word with his seventh goal in 10 matches five minutes from time, after Arsenal star Aaron Ramsey had broken Andorra’s resolve with a 50th-minute opener in Cardiff.

Netherlands fail to qualify for Euro 2016