Danny Blind's Netherlands crashed to an embarrassing defeat against ten-man Czech Republic - and failed to make Euro 2016.

After a lively opening quarter of an hour, the hosts struggled to defend on the counter-attack, and goals from Pavel Kaderabek and Josef Sural gave the Czech Republic a cushion.

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The Netherlands must have felt they had a chance to get back into it when Marek Suchy was sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity just before the break.

They had already brought Robin van Persie off the bench in a desperate attempt to chase goals, and nobody would have expected him to write his name on the score-sheet in the way that he did, nodding a free kick past his own goalkeeper Jeroen Zoet to put Czech Republic three up.

It was Klaas-Jan Huntelaar who finally made the breakthrough with a consolation on 70 minutes, and Van Persie did manage to net at the right end seven minutes from time - but it never felt as if the Netherlands were actually going to draw level.

Robin van Persie of the Netherlands makes a score against goalkeeper Petr Cech of Czech Republic during their Euro 2016 group A qualifying soccer match in Amsterdam, Netherlands October 13, 2015. REUTERS/Toussaint Kluiters/United Photos Image credit: Reuters

In the end, Turkey's win made it all theoretical - and the Netherlands miss a European Championships for the first time in over 30 years.

KEY MOMENTS

24' GOAL! This is not good, Netherlands. Terrific finish from Kaderabek, cantering up the right wing, and Zoet dives too early as that runs across in front of him and into the net. If the scores stay the same, Netherlands do not qualify...

35' GOAL! Oh, chaos. Czech Republic throw-in gets flicked into the box, and Van Dijk dances round the chance of putting in a challenge on Sural, who stumbles but still prods home.

43' RED CARD! Now then! Czech Republic down to 10, as Suchy is sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity, coming in on Memphis.

66' GOAL! Well, van Persie has scored. But it's an own goal. Absolutely shambolic from the Netherlands - he's trying to tap it back to his keeper but instead nods it neatly past him.

Turkey's Selcuk Inan (3R) celebrates scoring with team mates during their Euro 2016 Group A qualification soccer match against Iceland in Konya, Turkey, October 13, 2015. REUTERS/Umit Bektas Image credit: Reuters

70' GOAL! There's one back, courtesy of Huntelaar. Perhaps this is going to be the start of a magical comeback!

83' GOAL! Van Persie redeems himself a little with that nudge on.

STATISTICS

Robin van Persie is the first player to score 50 goals for the Netherlands.

The Netherlands have lost two competitive home games in a row for the first time in their history.

TALKING POINT

Is this the worst Netherlands team ever? It's certainly the worst in more than one generation. What on earth has gone wrong? With a bunch of legends looking on from the bench in their tracksuits, perhaps it goes some way to showing that footballing ability doesn't equate to coaching ability or tactical nous.

Bruno Martins Indi of the Netherlands (R) is sent off the pitch with a red card while Netherlands' head coach Danny Blind gestures during their Euro 2016 qualifying soccer match against Iceland in Amsterdam, the Netherlands September 3, 2015. REUTERS/Mich Image credit: Reuters

MAN OF THE MATCH

Pavel Kaderabek. Scored the vital first goal, charging forward up the wing from full back, and a solid display.

RATINGS

Netherlands: Zoet 5, Tete 5, Bruma 5, Van Dijk 4, Riedewald 5, Blind 5, Wijnaldum 5, Sneijder 5, Depay 5, Huntelaar 5, El Ghazi 5. Subs: Vermeer, Stekelenburg, Van der Wiel, Anita, Rekik, Kongolo, Bazoer, Afellay, Elia, Lens 5, Dost 6, Van Persie 5.

Czech Republic: Cech 7, Kaderabek 7, Kadlec 7, Gebre Selassie 7, Suchy 5, Skalak 6, Pavelka 6, Plasil 6, Darida 6, Necid 6, Sural 6. Subs: Vaclik, Koubek, Prochazka 6, Kalas 6, Novak, Frydek, Petrzela, Kopic, Krejci, Skoda 6.

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