It's looking like the Netherlands aren't going to qualify for the World Cup
The Netherlands didn't qualify for Euro 2016. Now it's looking like they won't be at the 2018 World Cup either.
A surprising 2-0 loss to Bulgaria on Saturday dropped the Netherlands to fourth in their World Cup qualifying group. Now they find themselves six points back of first-place France and three points behind second-place Sweden, who they have to catch to make a playoff and keep their chances of playing at the World Cup alive.
With five matches left in qualifying, a three-point deficit is not insurmountable. The Netherlands will still play Sweden -- and third-place Bulgaria again -- so if they can win, then they're right back even for that playoff spot. But there's little reason to believe the Dutch will be able to come back and qualify for the World Cup.
In the Netherlands' last 15 qualifiers, be it for Euros or World Cup, their only wins have come against Kazakhstan, Latvia, Belarus and Luxembourg. This despite having nine chances against France, Czech Republic, Iceland, Turkey, Sweden and Bulgaria.
For three years now, the Netherlands have only been able to beat up on European minnows in qualifying, and have been routinely beaten by anyone better.
The Netherlands won't be able to qualify for the World Cup just by beating Belarus and Luxembourg. They'll have to beat Sweden and Bulgaria. They'll have to rack up points and play excellent over their last five matches. They'll have to do what they haven't been able to do since the 2014 World Cup.
If the Dutch can't figure things out, they won't be going to the 2018 World Cup. And right now, it doesn't look like they're going to.
