It was his final competitive fixture of the season, but Arjen Robben has maintained his impressive form through to the end. In the first match under rehired boss Dick Advocaat, the Netherlands skipper scored the 21st minute opener for his national team in a 2018 World Cup qualifier against minnows Luxembourg. The clash in Rotterdam ended 5-0 to the home team, with Wesley Sneijder (34), Georginio Wijnaldum (62), Quincy Promes (70) and Vincent Janssen (84, pen) scoring the remaining goals. The win keeps Dutch hopes of a place in Russia next summer alive as Robben & Co are up to third in Group A, three points off Sweden and France. Only the nine European group winners are sure of a place at the World Cup. The eight best runners-up enter play-offs for the remaining four places in Russia.
Draw for Vidal against Russians
In a friendly against Confederations Cup and World Cup hosts Russia, Arturo Vidal and Chile played out a 1-1 draw, although the South Americans might well have won in Moscow after taking the lead through Mauricio Isla on 56 minutes. However, the home side levelled 11 minutes later when Viktor Wasin headed home from a corner. Chile created the better chances before the break but Russia upped the tempo in the second period. Vidal drew three fine saves from veteran home keeper Igor Akinfejew with a trio of first-half headers and also had a goal chalked off for a foul.
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