New black for the Oranje as Dutch face missing World Cup
After Sweden thumped Luxembourg 8-0 on Saturday the Netherlands are all-but eliminated from Russia contention - unless they beat Sweden by seven goals.
The Netherlands are practically eliminated from the World Cup in Russia at the qualification stage after Sweden thrashed Luxembourg 8-0 on Saturday, leaving the Oranje third in Group A and three points behind the Swedes with one game to play.
That game will take place in Amsterdam on October 10 and the visitors will be Sweden, giving the Dutch a slim chance of going through to the playoffs – if they win by seven clear goals.
Netherlands' international slump continues
The Netherlands won 3-1 in Belarus with goals from Arjen Robben, Davy Pröpper and Memphis Depay but another calamitous qualification campaign leaves them in all likelihood of missing out on a second consecutive major tournament after their failure to qualify for Euro 2016.
With Argentina also facing elimination at the qualification stage – the Albiceleste lie sixth in the Conmebol table with a game to play – there is the very real prospect of the two nations that met in the semi-finals in Brazil in 2014 not being in the pot for Russia.
Sweden meanwhile celebrated their biggest win since a 10-1 drubbing of Finland in 1954 as they swept Luxembourg aside with Marcus Berg helping himself to four goals.