Luxembourg vs Netherlands - Must-win game for Holland

Posted Sunday, November 13, 2016 by PA

Holland know anything less than victory away to Luxembourg on Sunday will all but end their hopes of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.

Danny Blind's men head to the 8,000-capacity Stade Josy Barthel on the back of a 1-1 friendly draw against Belgium, which saw forward Vincent Janssen as well as midfielders Jeremain Lens and Stijn Schaars all get injured.

The Netherlands, who failed to reach the finals of Euro 2016, already face a battle to get out of Group A.

Currently Holland sit third, some six points behind leaders France, 1-0 winners at the Amsterdam ArenA last month, but remain still within striking distance of Sweden having played a match less.

Celebrations around Galatasaray midfielder Wesley Sneijder making his 125th international appearance against Belgium were overshadowed by the loss of three more players to injury.

Blind has move to bring in Swansea's Leroy Fer and hand a first senior call up for Marten de Roon, who joined English Premier League side Middlesbrough over the summer.

No matter what side the coach sends out on Sunday, there will be no room for further error if the Dutch are to make the most of Sweden's 2-1 defeat at the Stade de France on Friday.

"Luxembourg will be a totally different game (to against Belgium)," Blind told a news conference, "and it is one in which we will need to be inventive when we have the ball."

Veteran winger Arjen Robben accepts if the Oranje team fail to head into the game with the correct mindset, then they will not be able to produce the required performance.

"We have to go there with the right attitude," the Bayern Munich forward said to ANP.

"It is about winning this game more than anything else, it is as simple as that.

"Of course, you have to respect your opponent, but let's not overestimate Luxembourg.

"It might sound strange, but we should not be satisfied with a 1-0 or 2-0 win.

"We have to put in an intense performance and not allow them to breathe. If we do that, we are capable of getting a good win there."

Luxembourg warmed up for the World Cup qualifier with a midweek friendly against Belgian side KV Mechelen, which they lost 4-2 at Stade Achille Hammerel.

While less than impressed with the manner of his team's defeat, which saw Luxembourg 3-0 down at half-time, coach Luc Holtz knows full well it is likely to be another uphill battle again on Sunday.

Holtz, whose side picked up their first point of the qualifying campaign with a 1-1 draw in Belarus last time out, said to Luxemburger Wort: "This is a young (Holland) team with a lot of individual quality.

"Also, they have experienced players who make the decisions at the right time."