CLASSY DUTCH MOVE TO BRINK OF WORLD CUP SPOT WITH FINNISH ROUT
Netherlands moved to the brink of World Cup qualification with a 4-0 drubbing of an outclassed Finland side in Amsterdam.
Donyell Malen’s long-range strike (8′), Virgil van Dijk’s header (17′), a Memphis Depay penalty (38′) and a blistering Cody Gakpo hit (84′) saw Ronald Koeman’s men effectively kill off Finland’s hopes of a play-off spot from Group G.
A win for Poland in Lithuania on Sunday night will end Finland’s faint prospects of second place in the section, with Jacob Friis’ Finns having one fixture to fulfil at home against Malta next month.
The Dutch would confirm their spot as group winners with a point against Poland in Warsaw on November 14 due to their huge goal difference, 15 more than Poland, but even an away defeat would leave them requiring only a home win over Lithuania three days later in their final match to secure top spot.
Meanwhile, Poland will move three points ahead of Finland, having played one game less, with a victory over Lithuania and a goal difference of plus nine over the Finns ahead of Sunday’s match in Kaunas, before they conclude their campaign with a trip to Malta on November 17.
