Blind sacked as Dutch coach after World Cup flop
Danny Blind was sacked as Netherlands coach on Sunday after a 2-0 defeat to Bulgaria left the team's chances of reaching the World Cup finals hanging by the slenderest of threads.
Netherlands’ Head Coach Danny Blind looks on prior to the FIFA World Cup 2018 qualification football match between Bulgaria and Netherlands in Sofia on March 25, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / NIKOLAY DOYCHINOV
Blind, 55, had been in charge since July 2015, succeeding Guus Hiddink, but Saturday’s loss in Sofia left the Dutch in fourth place in qualifying Group A, six points behind leaders France.
Only the group winners are guaranteed a place in the 2018 finals in Russia.
Blind’s assistant Fred Grim will take charge of the team for Tuesday’s friendly against Italy in Amsterdam, the Dutch football federation (KNVB) said.
“We (the federation) have a lot of respect for Danny, but due to negative results and the difficulty we have to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, we must part company with him,” said the KNVB in a statement.
The Netherlands, three-times World Cup runners-up, also failed to qualify for Euro 2016.
“To qualify for Russia will be very complicated,” admitted star midfielder Wesley Sneijder.
