KARACHI: Despite the unconvincing nature of Holland’s 3-1 win over Kazakhstan, where a couple of late goals provided Guus Hiddink with his first win in his second stint as Holland coach, the former Real Madrid manager will be confident of a win against Iceland when they travel to Reykjavik in their Group A match on Monday.
Iceland have won both of their games so far but Hiddink believes they would be an easier proposition than Kazakhstan as they would to attack more, especially considering the Dutch have won nine of the total 10 meetings between the two sides, with the other match ending in a draw. “I have confidence we can win the Iceland match,” he said. “There will be more space to play than [against Kazakhstan].”
Ibrahim Afellay scored what proved to be the winner against Kazakhstan and was on the end of a rough tackle that saw Baurzhan Dzholchiev see red. However, the Barcelona loanee feels he is fit for the match, despite having minor swelling in his foot. “"My foot is thick, but I can play," Afellay was quoted as saying by De Telegraaf.
Conte looking to extend perfect starts
Antonio Conte will be looking to extend his perfect start as Italy coach when the Azzurri travel to face Malta in their Group H Euro 2016 qualifying match.
With Mario Balotelli out and Andrea Pirlo back from retirement, Conte has wasted little time in moulding this Italy side in his shape. After a couple of convincing 2-0 wins against Holland and Norway in his two matches in charge, Italy looked decidedly less assured against Azerbaijan as former Juventus charge Giorgio Chiellini scored all three goals of the match, including an own goal.
Conte will be eager for Italy to defeat the islanders, who have lost all six previous meetings between the two.
Germany stunned
World champions Germany suffered their first defeat since winning the World Cup in Brazil when they lost 2-0 to neighbours Poland in Group D.
With Per Mertesacker, Philipp Lahm and Miroslav Klose retired, and Bastian Schweinsteiger injured, the German side that won the World Cup has been drastically shorn of experience and it showed as they lost to Poland for the first time in history despite dominating most of the match.
The Germans were uncharacteristically profligate in front of the goal, missing several gilt-edged chances, and were punished by the hosts as Arkadiusz Milik and substitute Sebastian Mila got on the scoresheet. However, Joachim Loew is confident that his side will bounce back. “We have to look ahead to Ireland and make sure we show a good reaction," said Loew after the match, in which only six players of the World Cup final starting XI featured.
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