Netherlands miss out after early collapse
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
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Netherlands 2-3 Czech Republic
The Oranje missed out on the UEFA EURO for the first time since 1984 after succumbing to a Czech team destined for top spot in Group A.
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- Netherlands miss out on UEFA EURO finals for first time since 1984
- Right-back Pavel Kadeřábek puts Czech Republic ahead after 24 minutes
- Josef Šural doubles lead before Marek Suchý is sent off before break
- Robin van Persie heads own goal midway through second half
- Klaas-Jan Huntelaar reduces arrears, Van Persie makes it 3-2
The Netherlands' slim hopes of booking a place in the UEFA European Championship play-offs ended as Pavel Kadeřábek, Josef Šural and a Robin van Persie own goal handed the Czech Republic a 3-2 Group A-clinching victory in Amsterdam.
Although Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Van Persie hauled the hosts back into the match, Danny Blind's beleaguered outfit endured another torrid evening as their fate was sealed in front an expectant Amsterdam ArenA crowd.
Needing a win and hoping for a Turkey defeat at home to Iceland, the Dutch took the initiative from the off and Anwar El Ghazi forced Petr Čech into a save in the first minute. However, the Czechs took the lead in the 24th minute when Jiří Skalák released Kadeřábek into space in the box and the full-back drilled past goalkeeper Jeroen Zoet from an acute angle.
Eleven minutes later Šural doubled the Dutch sorrow after penetrating the area with a galloping run from the left wing, manoeuvring his way past Virgil van Dijk and slotting in at the near post. Blind immediately took drastic measures, substituting defender Jairo Riedewald for the country's all-time top scorer Van Persie.
Marek Suchý saw red two minutes before the break for hauling Memphis Depay to the turf, and briefly it seemed the Netherlands coach's tactical tweak was reaping rewards. Van Persie's own goal cut short their renaissance, though, as the Fenerbahçe man nodded into his own net.
Huntelaar's consolation preceded Van Persie's 83rd-minute strike, his 50th in Oranje colours, but the hosts' fate was already confirmed and they miss out on a UEFA EURO for the first time since 1984. Pavel Vrba's visitors, by contrast, will travel to France as Group A winners after overtaking Iceland with victory here.