ARJEN ROBBEN PULLED no punches in his damning assessment of Netherlands’ performance in their 2-0 World Cup qualifying loss to Bulgaria on Saturday.
Danny Blind’s side were well beaten by Spas Delev’s brace inside 20 minutes in Sofia, the striker capitalising on hesitant defending from 17-year-old debutant Matthijs de Ligt.
The visitors did improve slightly after the interval but never looked like mounting a recovery and sit fourth in Group A, six points off leaders France and three behind Sweden, who occupy the play-off berth at the halfway stage of the campaign.
Having missed out on Euro 2016, Netherlands — who finished third at the World Cup in Brazil three years ago — are in grave danger of failing to qualify for the finals in Russia in 2018.
What can you say? This is a nightmare,” captain Robben told NOS.
“We came here with good intentions and before the game I was positive. But the first half was such a deplorable level.”
Robben refused to single out De Ligt, the Ajax prospect with just 14 prior senior appearances, who was caught under a long ball for Bulgaria’s opener, allowing Delev in to score.
“There was a lot wrong,” Robben said. “We can point fingers but that does not make sense.
That does not change the result. We lost here, and those are the hard facts.
“If we play a good game, we win here. But we did not play a good game, or even a bad game. This was a terrible day.”
Has to start now
Instead of who exactly Conor?
Don’t just red thumb me, please offer your suggestion, generally we have the likes of Hendrick, Whelan, McCarthy, Walters, Hoolihan as midfielders or creative players, which one do you drop for arter?
Drop Mccarthy, offers nothing really. Arthur always shows for possession and make attacking runs.
Maybe wouldn’t entirely disagree with you, but McCarthy performed very well against Germany and Bosnia in recent crucial games, and he’s playing regularly for a top half premiership club, can’t see too many agreeing with you
McCarthys only decent games this campaign were against Germany and Bosnia. He was poor against Gibraltar bar 1 pass, very poor against Georgia both times and he was only ok against Scotland. When he has a good game he’s brilliant, but that’s very rare in an Ireland shirt unfortunately.
Yes I agree, I’ve been very frustrated with McCarthy at times but I think when we pack midfield as we’ve been doing recently it allows hoolihan to do the demanding of the ball and Whelan to get the simple 5 yard passing going while McCarthy can then break up play using his athleticism and provide a box to box engine
I’d put him in ahead of Quinn and Meyler.
Offers something different.
Hendrick.
The problem is Hendrick has actually played for us in competitive games and has done well including a cracking build up and assists to a crucial goal
Put mcarthy in the deepest holding role instead of whelan, he us much more effective and mobile at it… its his best position, he’s not a creative player , never has been… don’t know why people expect him to be