Scots sunk by sixy football
The Dutch have been in a state of disarray since Saturday's 1-0 reverse at Hampden Park, with stories circulating questioning the commitment of the players, but they answered their critics in the best possible fashion with a classy display as they ruthlessly demolished the Scots.
Ajax's teenage star Wesley Sneijder was thrust into the team by coach Dick Advocaat and it proved a masterstroke as he masterminded the victory, scoring one goal and creating two others.
After a tempestuous opening 10 minutes, which almost resulted in referee Michel Lubos losing control of the game, the Dutch assumed control and could have opened the scoring had Rafael van der Vaart done better with his header from an Andy van der Meyde cross.
Ruud van Nistelrooy then had a shot saved by Rab Douglas, but the opener followed shortly afterwards.
Sneijder showed great skill, leaving Neil McCann in his wake before advancing and firing in a shot which arrowed past Douglas and into the bottom corner.
The goal visibly lifted both Holland and the Amsterdam ArenA crowd and the home side duly turned on the style.
After seeing Lee Wilkie head wide from a free kick, the Dutch showed Scotland how to execute a set piece as Andre Ooijer headed home from a pin-point Sneijder ball.
Five minutes later, on 37, van Nistelrooy took the game beyond the Scots with a carbon copy of Ooijer's goal, heading home from Sniejder's free kick.
Scotland did look threatening at free kicks, as Wilkie demonstrated when forcing Edwin van der Sar into a smart save, but they were ruthlessly exposed at the back once again five minutes into the second half.
Van Nistelrooy was another player to justify his selection from Advocaat, as he escaped his marker before lofting the ball over Douglas to well and truly extinguish Scotland's qualification hopes.
Half time substitute Frank de Boer took advantage of Scotland's defensive frailties to head home the fifth and van Nistelrooy completed his hat-trick moments later to seal a memorable night for Holland.
