June 30 – Netherlands boss Frank De Boer has stepped down from his role after his team’s 2-0 elimination by Czech Republic at Euro 2020 in the round of sixteen, admitting his “goal has not been achieved”.
The Dutch travelled to the Hungarian capital in a buoyant mood and dreaming of the final, but crashed out following a moment of madness from Matthijs De Ligt and goals from both Tomas Holes and Patrick Schick. The 2-0 reality check has led to the first coaching casualty of these continental finals with De Boer drawing his own conclusions.
“I have decided not to continue as national coach. The target has not been achieved, that is clear,” said De Boer in a statement released by the Dutch football federation KNVB. “When I was approached to become national coach in 2020, I thought it was an honour and a challenge, but I was also aware of the pressure that would come upon me from the moment I was appointed.”
“That pressure is only increasing now, and that is not a healthy situation for me, nor for the squad in the run-up to such an important game for Dutch football on its way to World Cup qualification.”
The KNVB required De Boer to reach the last eight of the tournament, a stipulation in his contract stating that “the contract will not be renewed” in case of failure to meet the target. And so, De Boer’s short tenure ended in calamity after disastrous spells with Inter Milan, Crystal Palace and Atlanta United.
“Despite Frank’s hard work the team did not reach the quarter-finals. We hoped for a better Euro and the choice of Frank turned out differently than we hoped,” said KNVB director Nico-Jan Hoogma.
De Boer’s departure will not solve Dutch problems. In September, the Netherlands play Norway in an all-important World Cup qualifier, but will any coach be able to restore their identity by then?
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