Netherlands put title on the line
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Article summary
It was all going so smoothly for the Netherlands in Under-21 qualifying but a sudden dip in form has left the holders needing to avoid defeat in Switzerland tonight if they are to avoid a possible premature exit.
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Dip in form
Having won their first five Group 5 games without conceding a goal, it began to go awry for the Dutch on 23 May when they lost 1-0 at home to Switzerland. Maximum points against Norway in Limburg on Friday would still have ensured first place and a play-off berth, but with his team leading 1-0 in the last minute, defender Erik Pieters gave the ball away and Arnar Førsund took advantage by levelling for the Scandinavians – leaving Switzerland within three points of the leaders ahead of their decisive match in Schaffhausen. Netherlands coach Foppe de Haan said: "Erik Pieters was too nonchalant. A few minutes before he booted the ball into the corner from a situation like that, so he knew what had to be done. We dominated the second half, and you have to win a match like that easily."
In own hands
Still, a point in Switzerland would ensure the Netherlands do not have to rely on being one of the four best runners-up from ten groups to reach the play-offs, and De Haan is hopeful his side can keep their hopes of a third straight U21 title alive despite what happened in May. "They have a good side, but that doesn't matter," said De Haan, who has called up Henrico Drost to replace injured defender Dirk Marcellis. "That is what makes us men, we have been in worse situations. That is what top-level sport is about: when you have to do it, you just have to do it. The only ones who will decide if we will progress are ourselves, and I have faith that we will succeed in that."
Schürmann hopeful
One man who begs to differ is his opposite number, Pierre-André Schürmann. The Switzerland coach is missing Almen Abdi, Eren Derdiyok, Johan Djourou, Gelson Fernandes, Valentin Stocker and Johan Vonlanthen as they have all been called into Ottmar Hitzfeld's senior squad, while Stefan Andrist and Shkelzen Gashi have both withdrawn injured. Nevertheless, Schürmann remains hopeful, saying: "I know we have personnel problems. The senior team has priority of course and we have already played good matches without important players in the past. We have to live with it and try our best in this important match."
