Dutch, Irish boost morale with friendly wins
THE Netherlands warmed up for a vital 2018 World Cup qualifier next week with an emphatic 5-0 friendly win against Ivory Coast on Sunday.
The Dutch are struggling to make it to Russia next year, placed only fourth in Group A on seven points behind leaders France (13) Sweden (10) and Bulgaria (9).
Wit h Dic k Advoc a at of f i c i a l l y becoming their new manager today, it was assistant Fred Grim who took charge for the Rotterdam encounter aga i nst a n Ivor y Coa st side now coached by former Belgium boss Marc Wilmots.
Capitalising on defensive errors, Holland went into the break three goals to the good thanks to a brace from Joel Veltman and a penalty from Arjen Robben. Davy Klaassen and Vincent Janssen completed the scoring deep in the second half.
Advocaat takes charge of the national side for the third time.
His first match in charge is the allimportant qualifier against Luxembourg on Friday, with France taking on Sweden in Stockholm.
“We have to pray that France beat the Scandinavians,” said Dutch captain Robben.
“If we beat Luxembourg then we can still envisage taking second place to go into the playoffs.”
Advocaat and former Ballon d’Or winner Ruud Gullit as assistant were drafted in on a “short term” rescue mission by the Dutch federation, with the pair signing contracts through until the end of the year.
Advocaat, a renowned disciplinarian, replaced Danny Blind after he was sacked in March following a 2-0 defeat in Bulgaria.
Grim said: “Dick Advocaat arrives on Tuesday to coach the team. I think I’ve done good work to prepare the ground for him.
“This win will give us confidence before the Luxembourg match, which we absolutely have to win on Friday.”
Over in Dublin meanwhile, Ireland carved out a morale-boosting 3-1 win over Uruguay, ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Austria in Dublin.
With Seamus Coleman recovering from a double leg fracture, Derby fullback Cyrus Christie deputised and scored his second international goal.
Ireland had taken a 28th-minute lead through skipper Jonathan Walters, with Jose Gimenez levelling before the break.
Christie’s strike and a third from substitute James McClean rounded off a pleasing night for manager Martin O’Neill.
Ireland are on 11 points with Serbia, who top Group D on goal difference. The Austrians are placed fourth, on seven points.