Robben retires from Netherlands duty as Dutch miss out on Russia
Arjen Robben has ended his international career after the Netherlands' failure to qualify for the World Cup was confirmed on Tuesday.
Arjen Robben has retired from international football in the wake of the Netherlands' failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, the Dutch Football Federation (KNVB) has confirmed.
Robben scores twice as Dutch edged out on goal difference
The Netherlands, who are three-time World Cup runners-up, needed to beat Sweden by seven clear goals in their final Group A qualifier on Tuesday to leapfrog the Scandinavians into second spot and claim a place in the play-offs.
However, Dick Advocaat's men could only win 2-0 at the Amsterdam ArenA - with Bayern Munich winger Robben scoring both for the hosts - as the Swedes finished ahead of them on goal difference.
Having also been absent from the European Championship last year, Russia 2018 is the second straight major tournament that the Oranje have missed out on - the first time that this has happened for just over 30 years.
Appeared at three World Cups and three Euros
Robben, 33, made his debut for the Netherlands in 2003, scoring 37 goals in 96 caps and featuring at three World Cups and three European Championships.
Alongside Dennis Bergkamp, he is his country's joint-fourth highest goalscorer, behind Robin van Persie, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Patrick Kluivert.