ROTTERDAM, The Netherlands, June 9 (Xinhua) -- The Netherlands beat Luxembourg 5-0 in the 2018 World Cup qualifying competition, with Wesley Sneijder becoming the most capped player in the history of the Dutch national team on Friday in Rotterdam.
The Dutch pushed Luxembourg back in the first quarter with high tempo and high pressure on the defense of the visitors. Just when Luxembourg started to create some possibilities captain Arjen Robben broke the deadlock for "Oranje". He finished a pass by defender Wesley Hoedt.
Sneijder himself added the second goal in his record match, his 31st goal for the Dutch national team. After an assist he ran through the middle of the Luxembourg defense and scored.
It was the second time he scored on his birthday for the Dutch team. He did the same on June 9 during Euro 2008 against Italy (3-0).
In the second half the Dutch created some chances and extended the scoring through Georginio Wijnaldum from a rebound, substitute Quincy Promes with a header on a cross by Stefan de Vrij and Vincent Janssen with a penalty.
On his 33rd birthday, Sneijder played his 131st match for the Netherlands, surpassing the former record set by Edwin van der Sar (130).
Dick Advocaat, who started his third period of head coach of the Dutch national team, gave the playmaker of Turkish side Galatasaray a place in the starting line-up.
Sneijder made his first appearance for Netherlands on April 30, 2003 in a friendly against Portugal, also under coach Advocaat.
Sneijder was substituted in the 82nd minute and got a huge applause from the audience.
The Dutch moved one place up on the third in Group A with 10 points from 6 matches.
Thanks to a 2-1 win over France in Solna, Sweden became the new leader on goal difference, with 13 points, ahead of France. Bulgaria dropped to the fourth place after a 2-1 defeat against Belarus.
The nine winners of each European group will qualify for the World Cup in Russia, while the eight best runners-up will advance to the play-offs. On August 31 the Dutch faces France in Paris, while Sweden goes to Bulgaria.
