AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - The Netherlands, just over a year after finishing third at the World Cup, have resigned themselves to battling for the third place in their Euro 2016 qualifying group and the prospect of playoffs after a horror debut for new coach Danny Blind. Thursday's 1-0 home loss to Iceland left the Dutch third in their group standings and facing a key match against Turkey, who are only one point behind them, on Sunday.
"The reality is now we have to go for the third place. That’s the option we have left," said Blind, although mathematically the Dutch could yet win Group A but only if leaders Iceland and the second placed Czech Republic implode in their last three qualifiers. The top two qualify automatically for the finals in France next year while all but the best third placed finisher proceed to play-offs in November.
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