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Euro 2016: What do Holland need to do to qualify?

Der Oranje have suffered a horrendous qualifying campaign under Guus Hiddink and Danny Blind

Mark Critchley
Tuesday 13 October 2015 15:51 BST
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Georgino Wijnaldum hangs his head during last month's defeat to Turkey
Georgino Wijnaldum hangs his head during last month's defeat to Turkey (Getty Images)

The Netherlands have qualified for every European Championships since 1984, winning the competition once and reaching the semi-finals on three other occasons in the time since.

Tonight, however, just over a year since finishing in third place at the World Cup, they could miss out on Euro 2016 qualification. It is, in fact, very likely that they will.

Der Oranje are now managed by Danny Blind following Guus Hiddink's resignation earlier this year and they can hope for a play-off place at best. Even that, as our graphic shows, is a long shot.

What do Holland need to do to qualify?

Basically, Holland have to win and hope Turkey lose.

If they beat the second-placed Czech Republic at home they have any chance of claiming a play-off place. If they do not, they are out of contention.

However, a win alone is not enough. Holland also have to hope that group leaders Iceland beat Turkey, the team currently in possession of the group's play-off place.

If Turkey draw and Holland win, both teams will be on 16 points, but Turkey would still qualify as they have a superior head-to-head record, having drawn and beaten Der Oranje during qualification.

Just to confuse things even more, Turkey may even qualify automatically as the best third-placed team if they beat Iceland and Latvia finish bottom of the group.

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