KICKED IN THE NETHER REGIONS

Virgil slams his country’s ’scandalous’ display after going from eight minutes away of automatic qualification to one day from missing out on World Cup 2022

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BY KEITH WEBSTER

YOU know things are bad when your players describe their performance as scandalous and super dumb, and the manager is lost for an explanation.

Two goals to the good, and eight minutes from collecting their plane tickets for Qatar with automatic qualification, Holland are now one day from missing out on the World Cup altogether.

A nation that was celebrating winning Group G with a game to spare now has to prepare to avoid defeat at all costs against Norway in Rotterdam or face watching the action next winter from their armchairs. Louis van Gaal’s side held a comfortable lead in Podgorica after a double from Memphis Depay either side of the interval.

But goals from Ilija Vukotic in the 82nd minute and Nikola Vujnovic four minutes later saw Montenegro grab a shock draw and left Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk on the warpath.

The Dutch captain said: “It was scandalous the way we played in the second half. We all want to have the ball, play football, attack and score. But sometimes you also have to think defensively, too.

“Our organisation was not good. We should have kept control and not all run forward. If it has to be ugly, then it has to be ugly.

“We also said that to each other beforehand.”

The only saving grace for the Dutch is that Norway were held 0-0 by Latvia on Saturday without the striking services of Erling Haaland, who will be missing through injury again tomorrow night.

That kept Holland two points clear at the top of the group, meaning a draw will be enough tomorrow.

Their former Manchester United star Depay said: “This is a hard blow. We sold ourselves short, the fans who have travelled and the fans back at home. We had it in our own hands and we gave it away completely.

“That is super dumb. This was simply childish. We know it wasn’t a good game, but if you’re two goals up, you have to take it home.”

Holland are still in control of their own destiny but will have to live on their nerves now when they could have strolled through the Norway clash with no fears.

Should they lose and Turkey beat Montenegro, the Dutch will be eliminated. And they will have to do it in an empty stadium after the Dutch government banned spectators at sporting events for three weeks following a surge in Covid cases.

Van Gaal took some blame for late substitutions, which were aimed at resting some players who had picked up knocks.

“The changes were not good but

I cannot really explain what happened,” he said.

“This leaves a bad aftertaste but

I’m not going to criticise my players.

They also really want to go to the World Cup.

“We have to play Norway and prepare positively. We are still in the best position.”