Danny Blind steps down as Netherlands coach following latest World Cup qualifying defeat

Dutch coach Danny Blind has officially tendered his resignation to the KNVB following the Oranje’s latest defeat away to Bulgaria which has left the three-time World Cup runners-up in fourth place in Group A in the European Zone World Cup qualifiers and in the precarious position of realistically missing out on a place at Football’s greatest spectacle for the first time since the ill-fated Korea/Japan 2002 campaign.

Speaking at a press conference in Amsterdam this evening after the team arrived from Sofia where two early goals from Bulgarian Striker Spas Delev further dented Dutch hopes of a revival to their stuttering World Cup campaign, Mr. Blind had this to say:

“Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that I would have been at the helm of a Dutch team which would be struggling like this. We had a great opportunity to at least go second in the group and gain a potential play-off spot. But with this latest defeat and with only five more matches to play, there is now no more room for error. It is on this note that I wish my successor, whoever he is, good luck in guiding the Oranje to Russia because as of this hour I am no longer in charge.”

As shocked reporters and players looked on, Mr. Blind pulled out a note from his left shirt pocket and handed it to a stunned KNVB President Michael van Praag.

Mr. Blind continued:

“This should come as no surprise to anyone. This is a team that has numerous problems. The younger players are not stepping up and there is always this tendency to rely too much on Robben. Why should this be? I sincerely hope that my replacement can surely work a miracle with this current team and that they will be able to do in this World Cup campaign what they have never done before - win five consecutive games.”