Will Dutch Lion roar again? World Cup finalists face an uphill task to qualify for Russia 2018

Netherland's Memphis Depay (C) exchanges his shirt with Italy's Leonardo Spinazzola (R) during the friendly football match between The Netherlands and Italy at the Arena Stadium, on March 28, 2017 in Amsterdam. / AFP PHOTO /

Last year, their team absent from the European Championship, Dutch football fans sat drinking beer overlooking Marseille’s Old Port under an orange banner which read: “We only do World Cups.”

That seems like wishful thinking now. Halfway through its qualifying campaign for the 2018 tournament, the Netherlands -a finalist and semifinalist at the last two World Cups -is hunting for a new coach and facing an uphill battle to qualify for Russia. The previous coach, Danny Blind, was fired last Sunday, a day after his team lost to Bulgaria 2-0 in Sofia.