In September 2015, the Netherlands still had a chance to qualify for Euro 2016, even though things looked difficult. Danny Blind had only recently taken over, but changes weren’t going to plan.
Against Iceland, in a crucial match, Stoke City’s Bruno Martins Indi, then with Porto, got himself sent off for lashing out, the Netherlands lost 1-0 and Martins Indi was persona non grata.
The defender hasn’t played for his country since, and his transfer to Stoke didn’t immediately give him a refresh. The Netherlands don’t have the strength in depth they once enjoyed and Blind can hardly keep up the stance for too long.
Therefore, Martins Indi has been recalled after Terence Kongolo was injured. It’s certainly a chance for the Stoke man, but he may well have mixed feelings. He was wrong against Iceland, but was clearly hung out to dry, with Blind happy to see the player singled out and blamed.
Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf point out Martins Indi’s ‘unnecessary red card’, and he card be assured that it hasn’t been forgotten about.
