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Monday 27 March 2017

Danny Blind fired as coach of Dutch football team

MIKE CORDER year’s tournament in Rus-
Associated Press sia. Only the top team from
THE HAGUE, Netherlands each group qualifies auto-
(AP) — The Dutch football matically.
association fired national Blind took over from vet-
coach Danny Blind on Sun- eran Guus Hiddink in 2015,
day, a day after his team’s with a mission to revive
humiliating 2-0 defeat to the Dutch team’s faltering
Bulgaria in a World Cup European Championship
qualifier in Sofia. qualification campaign.
KNVB director Jean Paul He failed and the Nether-
Decossaux said in a state- lands — World Cup semifi-
ment that Blind was re- nalists in Brazil in 2014 — did
moved because of poor not qualify for the 2016 Eu-
results under his leadership. ropean Championship.
Blind said he believed the Constantly battling to cope
team was on the right path with injuries to key players,
and that the Bulgaria de- Blind rarely managed to
feat was “an incident.” select a stable team. He
“It’s a shame it ends here,” lost five European Cham-
he added. pionship and World Cup
The KNVB said it will now qualifiers during his tenure.
start the search for a per- A former defender for Ajax
manent replacement. Netherlands’ coach Danny Blind after his team missed an opportunity to score during their World and the Dutch team, Blind
Blind’s assistant, Fred Grim, Cup Group A qualifying soccer match against Bulgaria, at the Vassil Levski stadium in Sofia, Bul- spent three years as No.
will temporarily replace garia, Saturday, March 25, 2017. The Dutch football association fired national coach Danny Blind 2 coach with the Nether-
him when the Netherlands on Sunday. lands and his only other
plays Italy in a friendly on (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) coaching experience was
Tuesday in Amsterdam. that the Netherlands A and now faces an uphill and retain a chance of a short spell in charge of
The defeat in Sofia meant slumped to fourth in Group fight to even finish second reaching playoffs for next Ajax.q
Lletget, Brooks dropped from US roster; Arriola added

RONALD BLUM Midfielder Sebastian Llet- Johnson and forward Bob- yellow-card accumulation. defender a yellow card in
AP Sports Writer get, defenders John Brooks by Wood. After an 0-2 start that led the 15th minute.
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — and Michael Orozco, and “Unfortunate series of inju- the U.S. Soccer Federation Lletget will be evaluated
An already banged-up U.S. forward Jordan Morris were ries and illnesses, and that’s to fire coach Jurgen Klins- in Los Angeles, where he
soccer team lost four more dropped by U.S. coach all part of it,” Arena said mann and bring back Are- plays for the Galaxy.
players heading into Tues- Bruce Arena, who added after a light training session na, the Americans could Brooks, a regular for Hertha
day’s World Cup qualifier midfielder Paul Arriola on on the practice field out- move back into one of the Berlin, left on a stretcher in
at Panama, including two Saturday. side Avaya Stadium. three qualifying positions the 70th minute because
starters from Friday night’s The U.S. already was with- Midfielder Jermaine Jones with a win Tuesday. of a sinus infection and was
6-0 victory against Hondu- out defender DeAndre returns after serving a one- “Both teams will certainly given blood tests.
ras. Yedlin, midfielder Fabian game suspension Friday for have a little bit of a fatigue “He wasn’t doing too well
issue going into Tuesday’s today,” Arena said.
game and in Jermaine “It would be difficult to put
we’ve got potentially a him on a flight to Panama
fresh, experienced player and then if he’s not doing
to come on the field,” Are- well send him back to Ger-
na said. many.”
Lletget put the U.S. ahead Morris has a right ankle inju-
in the fifth minute with his ry, but Arena hopes he will
first international goal, and be able to play for Seattle
then exited after his left next Friday.
foot was hurt during a slide
budgetaruba@setarnet.aw tackle by Ever Alvarado Orozco’s right knee is both-
that earned the Honduran ering him. q