World Cup Qualifiers: Holland on the brink of elimination despite Belarus win - 7M sport

World Cup Qualifiers: Holland on the brink of elimination despite Belarus win



Posted Sunday, October 08, 2017 by Skysports.com

World Cup Qualifiers: Holland on the brink of elimination despite Belarus win
Netherlands' hopes of reaching the World Cup are hanging by a thread

Holland beat Belarus 3-1 in Borisov but look set to miss out on the World Cup after Sweden thrashed Luxembourg 8-0 earlier in the day.

Despite victory at the Borisov Arena, the Dutch are almost certain to fail to qualify for a second successive major tournament given their inferior goal difference.

Dick Advocaat's side will host Sweden in Amsterdam with the visitors' goal difference now some 12 better after their resounding victory over Luxembourg.

Brighton midfielder Davy Propper put the Oranje ahead against Belarus on 24 minutes, but defender Maksim Valadzko levelled 10 minutes into the second half.

With time running out, Holland took the lead again through a penalty from Arjen Robben on 84 minutes before Memphis Depay made it 3-1 with a free-kick in stoppage time.

World Cup Qualifiers: Holland on the brink of elimination despite Belarus win
Sweden brushed aside Luxembourg in Stockholm

Earlier on Saturday, Sweden thrashed Luxembourg in Solna, which temporarily put them ahead of France, who beat Bulgaria 1-0 thanks to a Blaise Matuidi goal, at the top of the group.

Al Ain striker Marcus Berg netted four goals and captain Andreas Granqvist scored a penalty in each half as the Swedes recorded their biggest victory since 1938.

Luxembourg's worst defeat in 35 years put them bottom of the group, now with a goal difference of minus 18.

Elsewhere in Europe, Greece defeated Cyprus 2-1 in Nicosia with goals from Kostas Mitroglou and Alexandros Tziolis to move above Bosnia and Herzegovina into second place in Group H.

Bosnia went down 4-3 in a thrilling game at home to Belgium after Yannick Carrasco scored a late winner, a result which leaves Bosnia almost certain to be eliminated with Greece's final game against bottom side Gibraltar who were thrashed 6-0 by Estonia.

In Group B Switzerland beat Hungary 5-2 to move within one point of the finals, Steven Zuber scoring twice as the Swiss set up a winner-takes-all showdown against Portugal on Tuesday.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Andre Silva scored for the reigning European champions as they dispatched Andorra 2-0, with Portugal needing a victory in Lisbon to overturn Switzerland's lead at the top and book their place in the finals.

Latvia and the Faroe Islands played out a goalless draw in the other fixture in Group B.



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