The Dutch national football team are through to next year’s European Championship finals following their 2-0 triumph over ten-men Finland on Tuesday night. With their eighth victory in a row, Holland maintained their perfect record in UEFA group E, but their qualification depended on results in other groups.

The Dutch are not guaranteed to win their group (theoretically, Sweden still have a chance), but even if Holland finish second, they are guaranteed go through as the best-placed runners-up. Sweden will secure a play-off spot if they defeat Finland ahead of their encounter with the Dutch early next month.

The Netherlands, however, are keen to end as group leaders, preferably with a perfect record: ten victories out of ten matches. That would make them one of the four top-seeded countries in the finals (apart from defending European champions and world champions Spain and co-hosts Ukraine and Poland) and give them the privilege to play the first three matches in the same city.

Besides, it would put off a possible encounter with world champions Spain until the next round. But keeping a 100-percent record means Holland will have to beat both Moldova (at home) and Sweden (away) in October. Unless main rival Germany spills some points against Turkey or Belgium.
 

(tt)