The Netherlands, who finished third at the World Cup in July, are off to a woeful start to their Euro 2016 qualification campaign, with Ajax boss Frank De Boer questioning the appointment of coach Guus Hiddink.
Hiddink, who led the Dutch to the 1998 World Cup semi-finals in his first stint at the helm of his native country, and repeated the feat four years later with South Korea, is the man in the hot-seat after a shock 2-0 reverse in Iceland on Monday.
“It’s finished for Hiddink, it’s time to leave the position to a younger coach,” blasted former international defender De Boer.
Hiddink, who has also had spells as national coach of Australia, Russia and Turkey as well as Real Madrid, Chelsea and PSV Eindhoven at club level, got off to the worst possible start when Holland were beaten 2-1 by the Czech Republic in their opening qualifier.
A come-from-behind 3-1 victory, over a Kazakhstan side ranked 127 in the world, steadied the ship briefly, before Iceland, who have never qualified for a major tournament, upset the form book in Reykjavik.
Iceland and the Czech Republic hold the top two spots and automatic qualification on nine points from three matches, the Dutch are on three with Latvia (2), Kazakhstan (1) and Turkey (1) bringing up the rear in Group A.
“We are playing without any direction,” continued De Boer, who played under Hiddink at the 1998 World Cup and won 112 caps as a player. “The ball is being played to (Arjen) Robben and (Robin) van Persie and then they have to do it on their own, but Robben is isolated up front and there is no one to help him.” added De Boer who said he “never understood the appointment of Hiddink”.
Hiddink, took over from Louis van Gaal who is now in charge of Manchester United after leading the Dutch to the World Cup semi-finals.
The Dutch have regularly endured internal problems in the past and the relationship between United’s Van Persie and Schalke marksman Klaas-Jan Huntelaar is frosty at best, adding to discontentment within the squad.
Robben said: “Forget about the World Cup and stop talking about the 5-3-2, the problem is not tactics.
“The problem is our mentality and people must stop believing we are good, because in reality we are not good.”
