Turkey vs. Netherlands: Score and Reaction from Euro 2016 Qualifier

Turkey beat a sluggish-looking Netherlands team 3-0 in Konya on Sunday. Goals from Oguzhan Ozyakup, Arda Turan and Burak Yilmaz gave Turkey a vital three points in Group A of the Euro 2016 qualifiers and left the Netherlands dangling by a thread.

The two teams have actually traded places in the group. Sitting fourth, the Dutch appear in dire straits after another limp surrender.

Errors at the back plagued the Netherlands. But the simple fact was that Fatih Terim's squad was more committed off the ball and brighter in possession.

That was a surprise considering the Dutch team selection was a bold one—not least because of the youth manager Danny Blind trusted at the back, per Total Dutch Football:

Experience and quality were obvious in attack thanks to the inclusion of veteran striker Robin van Persie. The Fenerbahce man partnered Manchester United new boy Memphis Depay in a more proactive selection from Blind.

Dutch Football provided the full XI:

"

NETHERLANDS XI Cillessen, vd Wiel, De Vrij, Bruma, Riedewald, Blind, Klaassen, Sneijder, Narsingh, Van Persie Memphis

— Dutch Football (@football_oranje) September 6, 2015"

Dutch Football also detailed Turkey's team:

"

Turkey XI Babacan; Şener, Hakan Balta, Serdar, Tufan; Çalhanoğlu, Özyakup, Selçuk İnan, Arda Turan; Caner Erkin, Burak Yılmaz

— Dutch Football (@football_oranje) September 6, 2015"

Former Arsenal youth player Ozyakup lifted in a smart finish to put the hosts in front. He benefited from good work from the mercurial Turan.

Then it was a double-gaffe from United utility player Daley Blind and Ajax goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen that let Turan find the net. Striker Yilmaz soon came close to netting a third as the Dutch were at sixes and sevens in defence. But being shaky at the back wasn't the Netherlands' only problem.

In midfield, Wesley Sneijder and Davy Klaassen were failing to exert much influence. By contrast, Turkey's creative talents, Turan and the busy and energetic Hakan Calhanoglu, were causing plenty of problems.

The two-goal half-time deficit was enough to prompt some to call time on Blind Sr.'s stint in charge of the national team:

Blind Sr. was asked if he would resign following the defeat but dismissed such talk.

”That thought does not go through my head," Blind Sr. said, per Chris Davie of Goal.com. "We made mistakes at the wrong times in the early stages. We had chances, even more than Turkey."

But the under-fire boss made a bold change for the second half. He introduced clever and energetic attacking midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum for defender Bruno Martins-Indi. The younger Blind went into the middle of defence to facilitate the change.

The substitute failed to make the most of an early header following some terrific movement in the box. But at least Wijnaldum's runs were offering support to Van Persie.

The Dutch were starting to apply some pressure. Meanwhile, Turkey were content to turn Yilmaz into a lone target man as they sat back and absorbed pressure.

Turkish-Football.com was not impressed by the cagey tactic:

"

Dear Turkey, stop sitting DEEP

— Turkish-Football.com (@Turkish_Futbol) September 6, 2015"

There was a glimmer of hope for the Netherlands when the influential Turan was replaced by Fenerbahce winger Volkan Sen just before the hour mark. But the Dutch revival never really came.

There was no creativity at the heart of midfield. Depay was willing on the wing but lacked quality and didn't make the most of his pace to attack the heart of the Turkish defence between the lines.

Instead, there was plenty of neat passing, but it was all at close quarters, proving to be generally aimless stuff. So there was next to no pressure on the Turkey goal. Or to put it another way:

In response, Blind withdrew his son in favour of striker Luuk de Jong. The Netherlands changed to three at the back and two up top for the final 15 minutes or so.

But the switch in formation did nothing to add a spark for the Dutch. They were reduced to long-range drives.

Yilmaz struck the final blow after a swift and counter. He swivelled in the box and tucked a shot into the top corner.

Netherlands players rightly believed right-back Gregory van der Wiel was fouled in the build-up. The non-decision summed up Blind's night.

VI-Images/Getty Images

After the match, Terim commended his team's battling display and reiterated how hard his players will work to qualify:

"

Fatih Terim: "We never gave up, we never will. There are two games left and we will fight to the end"

— Turkish-Football.com (@Turkish_Futbol) September 6, 2015"

Ozyakup, who has some Dutch lineage, noted the irony of his first international goal:

"

Özyakup: "I scored my first goal for Turkey against the country I was born in. That's football"

— Turkish-Football.com (@Turkish_Futbol) September 6, 2015"

Ozyakup also praised the rabid crowd at Konya, per Turkish-Football.com, a sentiment echoed by goalkeeper Volkan Babacan:

"

Volkan Babacan: "The 12th Man spurred us on. We haven't had support like that in a long time. This win was for the fans"

— Turkish-Football.com (@Turkish_Futbol) September 6, 2015"

Meanwhile, Van Persie kept it short and not-so sweet in summing up his nation's performance:

"

Van Persie: "This is Awful" http://t.co/LSWSn8cy23 pic.twitter.com/PogLEHZItS

— Dutch Football (@football_oranje) September 6, 2015"

Significantly, the Dutch football federation have backed Blind despite his struggles, according to Netherlands journalist Mike Verweij (h/t Football Oranje).

Blind and the Dutch are now on the brink after back-to-back defeats to Iceland and Turkey. Sitting fourth in Group A, there's little margin for error left, with the next games coming in Kazakhstan before hosting the Czech Republic.

By contrast, Terim's men move up to third. Games in the Czech Republic and at home to Iceland will provide major tests. But based on this performance, Turkey have the energy, pace and quality in forward areas to cause any team problems.