THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) – The same Netherlands team that humiliated Spain early in last year’s World Cup is fading – and fading fast.
After losses to Turkey and Iceland over the last few days, the Dutch are on the brink of missing out on next year’s European Championship in France – a tournament expanded to accommodate 24 teams.
The Netherlands lineup that lost to Iceland 1-0 at home on Thursday and then 3-0 at Turkey on Sunday is virtually unchanged from the one that overwhelmingly defeated the defending World Cup champions 5-1 last year in Brazil and ended up finishing third.
“This whole qualification campaign has been incredibly difficult,” Netherlands striker Robin van Persie said after the loss in Turkey. “We still have a chance, but it is no longer in our hands and that is terrible.”
These days, the 1988 European champions and three-time World Cup finalists are struggling to find the net against all but the weakest opponents. The team is even more inept at defending its own goal.