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A late Klaas-Jan Huntelaar goal saved Holland’s blushes, while Italy came from behind in Bulgaria while Belgium and Bosnia-Herzegovina got easy wins

 Updated 
Sat 28 Mar 2015 17.52 EDTFirst published on Sat 28 Mar 2015 15.00 EDT
Turkey's Forward Burak Yilmaz (L) celebrates with teammates after scoring during the Euro 2016 qualifying round football match between Netherlands and Turkey at the Arena Stadium, on March 27, 2015 in Amsterdam. AFP PHOTO / JOHN THYSJOHN THYS/AFP/Getty ImagesFootballSoccer
Turkey’s Forward Burak Yilmaz (L) celebrates with teammates after scoring. Photograph: JOHN THYS/AFP/Getty Images
Turkey’s Forward Burak Yilmaz (L) celebrates with teammates after scoring. Photograph: JOHN THYS/AFP/Getty Images

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Well, a sickener and no mistake for Turkey, but perhaps more so for Holland, who despite the equaliser find themselves six points behind the group leaders with five games to play. Of course they aren’t completely borked, but it will take something fairly remarkable for them to get one of the two automatic spots. The playoffs it could be for them, then. Eesh.

Can Guus Hiddink survive this? Well, one wonders, but the long-term plan is for current assistant Danny Blind to take the top job - would it be any use to bin off the head coach and simply replace him with someone who is presumably part of the problem?

GOAL! Holland 1-1 Turkey (Huntelaar (90+2)

Oh my days. Just after six minutes of added time is signalled, Sneijder picks the ball up just outside the area, he shoots with some force and it may or may not be heading for the corner, but before it may or may not get there it hits Huntelaar on the back and flies into the net. Jammy gets.

Full-time: Bulgaria 2-2 Italy

Not so much the Italians. The Bulgarian players look devastated to have drawn that.

Italy pressing for a winner here. Immobile dances into the area from the left, and shoots a cross low across the face of goal, but it’s cleared just in time.

Route one stuff from Holland, as De Vrij hoofs one in the direction of Dost up top, and the home fans really have turned on their boys. The boos and whistles ring out when the Dutch have the ball, while it’s all ‘OLÉs’ when the Turks are in possession.

The Dutch really are in a state. After Narsingh, with the ball about five yards outside the Turkish penalty area, turns around and plays the ball all the way back to his defence, the Amsterdam air is ripe with boos and whistles. Colin Kazim-Richards has come on for Turkey, by the way.

Close! Italy so very nearly take the lead as the ball falls to Gabbiadini in the area, he controls, spins around and pulls a left-footed shot across goal, but he pulls it too much and the ball trickles past the post. Conte is, to say the least, super-miffed on the touchline.

GOAL! Bulgaria 2-2 Italy (Eder 83)

What. A. Goal. The sub does it for Italy, picking up the ball outside the area out on the left channel, and the Sampdoria forward curls an absolute beauty right into the top corner.

GOAL! Belgium 5-0 Cyprus (Batshuayi 80)

They’re having great fun over there now, as the ball falls to Michy Batshuayi, who had only replaced Benteke a few moments earlier, and he measures a delightful finish into the corner of the net.

Calhanoglu tries one from way, way out for Turkey, but it flies wide. Meanwhile Jetro Willems comes on for Holland, replacing Martins Indi.

Italy knocking on the door now, but in the manner of a drunk man coming home from a ‘few quiet pints’ that turned into an eight-hours session after work. Gabbiadini tries a shot from range, but it sails wide.

The two Dutch subs combine as Jarsingh flinghs over a cross from the right looking for Dost, but he can’t quite get a proper header on it, and it bounces and loops to the keeper.

Chance for Holland, as Sneijder weighs up a free-kick, curls it over the wall but it just keeps on curlin’, curlin’, curlin’ past the post.

In Sofia, Valeri Bojinov - or as Manchester City fans know him the man Sergio Aguero could’ve been - is into the action.

Chance for Italy, as Immobile tries a shot, it’s saved and the rebound falls to Bertolacci, who - and this is a technical term - guffs it up good and proper.

Here’s Dost for the Dutch, the striker coming on for Nigel de Jong. Holland will be playing four-four-fucking-two.

GOAL! Belgium 4-0 Cyprus (Hazard 67)

More deliciousness from the Belgians, almost straight away, as Hazard twinkles in from the left, shifts onto his right foot and measures a marvellous shot that pings in off the far post, leaving the keeper rooted.

GOAL! Belgium 3-0 Cyprus (Fellaini 65)

Marc Wilmots spins around like an ice dancer mugging for the judges as Marouane Fellaini bags his second, and it was a beauty. The Big Fleshy Tree cuts in from the right and curls a delightful left-footed shot into the far corner.

Woof! A bit of life from Holland as Afellay launches a shell of a left-footed half-volley from a ways outside the box, which is just above Babacan so he should save, and does, but there was some spice on that shot. Meanwhile, amusing scenes as Sen is replaced by Hakan Calhanoglu, retreating from the pitch with the slowest run that humanity can imagine, all the while turning to the referee who was hurrying him along saying “What? I’m running!” Or something.

GOAL! Andorra 0-3 Bosnia-Herzegovina (Dzeko 62)

There he is again, Edin Dzeko swooping to collect his hat-trick and the matchball, once again set up by Lulic. Think they’re going to win this one.

Goal machine Bas Dost is warming up for Holland, and might be doing so with more gusto as they miss a great chance. A cross comes over for Huntelaar that the striker can’t quite get to, but does enough to put off the keeper and the ball falls to Narsingh, who has half an open goal to aim at but pulls it wide of the post. Bad miss, that.

GOAL! Andorra 0-2 Bosnia-Herzegovina (Dzeko 49)

That’s the lead doubled in Andorra, as Manchester City’s Dzeko, after Senad Lulić breaks down the left, crosses and the striker is there to convert an easy finish.

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