Netherlands 5 Luxembourg 0: Sneijder scores on record-breaking appearance + Highlight

Dick Advocaat's third spell as
Netherlands coach began with a 5-0
win over Luxembourg, as Wesley
Sneijder set a new caps record.

Wesley Sneijder was on target as he became the
most-capped Netherlands international in a 5-0
World Cup qualifying win against minnows
Luxembourg in Rotterdam on Friday.
Coach Dick Advocaat was leading his country for
the first time in his third spell in charge and Oranje
were desperate for a victory, starting the game
fourth in Group A, six points adrift of leaders
France.
Against such modest opposition a Netherlands win
always looked inevitable, but Bulgaria's shock loss
in Belarus and Sweden's 2-1 victory over France in
Stockholm has rejuvenated their seemingly slim
hopes of qualifying for Russia 2018.
Arjen Robben was on target against Luxembourg in
November and he opened the scoring for his side
after 21 minutes at De Kuip, running on to Wesley
Hoedt's pass to finish easily.
But it was always likely to be Sneijder who stole
the spotlight and he picked out the bottom corner
with a terrific 20-yard drive to double the lead
before half-time and mark his 33rd birthday in
some style.
Georginio Wijnaldum added a powerful third before
Quincy Promes headed in the fourth and Vincent
Janssen scored a penalty after being brought down
by goalkeeper Ralph Schon as Netherlands
wrapped up an important three points easily.

Robben should have got Advocaat's latest reign off
to a flying start in the first minute after working a
neat one-two with Janssen, but his shot was
blocked by Schon's legs.
Janssen had a snapshot saved and Luxembourg
briefly threatened at the other end before Robben
broke the deadlock, as he did in his side's 3-1 win
in Luxembourg.
Hoedt won the ball back in midfield and swapped
passes with Sneijder before freeing Robben, the
winger running through on goal to slot in his 33rd
international goal – equalling the tally of the iconic
Johan Cruyff.
And in a low-tempo game a burst of quality from
Sneijder on his big day lit up the match.
Janssen linked up with Memphis Depay, who fed
Sneijder just outside the penalty area and the
playmaker arrowed a gorgeous strike into Schon's
bottom-right corner.

Kevin Strootman should have made it 3-0 but the
Roma midfielder failed to convert a brilliant
Sneijder free-kick that was delivered wickedly into
the danger zone.
Luxembourg were gifted a golden chance to reply
in stoppage time after a dreadful Jasper Cillessen
pass to Strootman, but the goalkeeper made
amends by saving from forward David Turpel.
Netherlands chances continued after the interval,
Schon making a brilliant flying diving save to his
right to tip Robben's swerving effort around the
post, before the offside flag denied Janssen.

Luxembourg's youngest ever player Vincent Thill
then reacted furiously to his substitution after 54
minutes, the 17-year-old booting over a kit bag
before sullenly taking his place on the bench.
With Luxembourg's resistance
crumbling Wijnaldum thumped home a loose ball in
the box for his side's third goal, and there was
more to follow.
A downward Promes header from Stefan de Vrij's
right-wing cross beat Schon, before Sneijder
departed to a standing ovation on his landmark
appearance having surpassed Edwin van der Sar's
130 appearances for Oranje.
With six minutes remaining, Janssen was sent
down in the box by goalkeeper Schon and crashed
in the subsequent penalty to complete the rout.
Next up for Advocaat's men is France away in
August in a blockbuster match likely to be decisive
for their World Cup chances, with three points now
separating the top three teams in a tight Group A.