Netherlands find themselves in a precarious position in Group A following a shock 1-0 defeat to Iceland on Thursday, with the Oranje currently third in the table after seven games. They are only one point ahead of fourth-placed Turkey, who they still have to face on the road in their next game, and defeat will see them in real danger of a premature elimination. Their slump in the qualifiers has come as a real shock considering they were semi-finalists in the World Cup only a year ago.
But a managerial change hasn’t seen results improve, and Netherlands are fast running out of time to turn things around. Given their poor form of late, it would hardly be a surprise to see the European giants defeated by Turkey, and that would leave them relying on other results to give themselves a chance of automatic qualification. It started badly for the Oranje with defeat to the Czech Republic in their opening match of Group A. They have gone on to drop points in four of their seven games played.
Iceland lead the way in the group with 18 points from a possible 21. The Czech Republic are second with 16 points. Netherlands have only 10 points for their troubles, and don’t appear likely to be catching the top-two now, so their battle is for a playoff spot, and Turkey are sure to provide stiff competition. The two sides lock horns on Sunday at the Konya Büyükşehir Torku Arena – a ground where the hosts have lost just once from four games played.
And with Netherlands having suffered two defeats in three away games, the formbook suggests Turkey will overtake them in the table this weekend. Matters are made even harder with injury to a key player in Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich) too, and it seems everything is going against the 2010 World Cup runners-up. They’ve had a lot of inexperience in the team, but their ageing stars remain standout performers.
The likes of Klass-Jan Huntelaar (6 games, 4 goals), Arjen Robben (4 goals, 2 goals) and Robin van Persie (5 games, 2 goals) have done their bit to get the goals, but the ever-alternating Oranje defence can’t stem the tide. Given Turkey have two very difficult games to come after Netherlands – Czech Republic away (10/10/15) and Iceland home (13/10/15) – the Oranje may well settle for less ahead of a tricky away tie. Losing to Turkey would be catastrophic, but maintain their one point lead going into a favourable class against Group A whipping boys Kazakhstan would be acceptable. But can the side finally deliver?
