Netherlands beat Belarus in Euro 2008 qualifier :: Charter'97 :: News

The Netherlands defeated Belarus 3-0 in the Euro 2008 qualifier to maintain their lead in Group G. Wednesday`s match at the Philips Stadium in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, was a sigh of relief for Dutch coach Marco van Basten after the national team`s weak showing in Luxembourg on Saturday.

Van Basten could not hide his anger when the Dutch only achieved a 1-0 win against Luxembourg.

In Wednesday`s match, Robin van Persie was no doubt the man of the match. He scored twice in the 33rd and 78th minute respectively and set up for the third goal in the 90th minute by Dirk Kurt.

Prior to Wednesday`s match, the Dutch national football association (KNVB) rejected a call from a prominent Dutch lawmaker for a boycott of the match.

Hans van Baalen, a legislator from the conservative Liberal Party, on Monday called for a boycott in protest of what he says "the authoritarian rule" of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

He said the Dutch side should not play the return game in Belarus in November either.

The Dutch football body brushed off the suggestion. "As far as we`re concerned the match should go forward. We are a football association, not a political organization," said a KNVB spokesperson. Enditem