The Netherlands' chances of qualifying for the 2016 European Championship slipped further away Sunday as the team that finished third at last year's World Cup crashed to a 3-0 defeat in Turkey. ''We no longer have our fate in our own hands,'' coach Danny Blind told Dutch broadcaster NOS. The Czech Republic beat Latvia 2-1 to go top of the group and guarantee qualification, though Iceland could regain top spot and win its first ever European Championship qualification when it played last-placed Kazakhstan later Sunday night. ''We advanced because we collected points on a regular basis,'' Czech goalkeeper Petr Cech said. ''The team proved it is hungry for success.'' The two teams in each group qualify automatically, along with the best third-place team. The eight other sides to finish third then go to a playoff round. The tournament in France looks a long way off for the Netherlands, European champion in 1988. Dutch-born midfielder Oguzhan Ozyakup put Turkey 1-0 up in the eighth minute, running onto a defense-splitting pass from Arda Turan and deftly chipping the ball over Jasper Cillessen. The Netherlands almost handed Turkey its second. Daley Blind failed to control a 26th-minute throw in, and was then muscled off the ball by Turan, whose shot Cillessen should have saved. ''If you give away goals so easily, you sell yourself short,'' Blind's father and coach said. Burak Yilmaz completed the Dutch humiliation by scoring a late third for the hosts, firing through the legs of defender Jairo Riedewald. The Netherlands was without injured captain Arjen Robben and Blind gave Ajax defender Riedewald his international debut to replace Bruno Martins Indi, who was suspended after being sent off last Thursday in his team's 1-0 defeat to Iceland. On the rare occasions that the Dutch did threaten Turkey's defense, the team's finishing let it down. Right winger Luciano Narsingh shot straight at goalkeeper Volkan Babacan in the 14th with Memphis Depay and Wesley Sneijder both free in front of goal. Davy Klaassen twice failed to get headers on target after good crosses by Depay and substitute Georginio Wijnaldum headed another Depay cross wide when all alone in front of goal five minutes into the second half. ''This whole qualification campaign has been incredibly difficult,'' Van Persie said. ''We still have a chance, but it is no longer in our hands and that is terrible.'' (For more sports news andupdates, followAhramOnlineSportson Twitter at@AO_Sportsand onFacebookatAhramOnlineSports.) http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/139840.aspx
