Confidence boosting friendly wins for Dutch and Irish

THE Netherlands warmed up for a vital 2018 World Cup qualifier next week with an emphatic 5-0 friendly win against Ivory Coast yesterday.

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).

With Dick Advocaat officially becoming their new manager today it was assistant Fred Grim in charge for the Rotterdam encounter against an Ivory Coast 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 double 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 all important qualifier against Luxembourg on Friday, with France in Stockholm to take on Sweden.

“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.

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 are on 11 points with Serbia who top Group D on goal difference. The Austrians are placed fourth, on seven points. – AFP