Danny Blind plays down reports of bust up involving Robin van Persie and Memphis Depay

Both players played big roles in Netherlands’ 2014 World Cup campaign

Holland coach Danny Blind has played down reports of a training ground bust up involving Manchester United midfielder Memphis Depay and ex – Arsenal striker Robin van Persie. Reports in De Telegraaf suggested that the pair were involved in a disagreement during a training session before Holland's 2-1 triumph over Kazakhstan on Saturday.

Georginio Wijnaldum and Wesley Sneijder scored either side of half-time before Islambek Kuat added a consolation as the Oranje won their fourth game of the campaign.

Danny Blind has since admitted to the occurrence of an altercation but insisted that the incident was an isolated one had been blown out of proportion.

"It was a discussion during training about a ball that should have been given over. Things like that happen often”, stated the Dutch coach.

"There are sometimes situations in training where players think differently. That’s what happened and then it was over", added the former Ajax midfielder.

The Netherlands came within a whisker of winning the 2010 World Cup final, but now stand on the brink of missing the European Championships for the first time since 1984 finals after a dismal qualifying campaign.

The Oranje’s only major tournament win came in 1988, when Marco van Basten and Ruud Gullit inspired them to continental victory over Russia in Germany.

Euro semi-finalists in 2000 and 2004, the Oranje were beaten by Spain after Andres Iniesta scored in the extra-time of the 2010 World Cup final. Under current Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal the Dutch reached the last four in Brazil last summer, where Argentina defeated them on penalties after a 0-0 stalemate over 120 minutes in Sao Paulo.

Two defeats in their three opening games against the Czech Republic and Iceland made the Oranje’s qualifying task difficult and their dismal record of four wins, four defeats and a draw leaves them two points behind Turkey with one game remaining to be played. Iceland and Czech Republic have already ensured their qualification from group A averaging 20 and 19 points respectively from the nine games played.

Turkey host Iceland and need only a draw to book a playoff spot, while the Netherlands must beat Czech Republic in Amsterdam to keep their slender hopes of qualification alive.

Netherlands failure to qualify for a major tournament for the first time since the 2002 World Cup will force National Team boss Danny Blind to undertake a huge transformation of his squad if the former Ajax player can keep his job after a disappointing qualifying run.