Louis van Gaal's exit as Netherlands coach after last summer's World Cup led to the downfall of the national team, former international Frank Rijkaard has said.
A disastrous Euro 2016 qualifying campaign saw Netherlands finish fourth behind Czech Republic, Iceland, and Turkey, meaning they miss next summer's tournament in France.
Netherlands finished third at the World Cup in Brazil and only missed out on a final against Germany after a penalty shootout defeat against Argentina.
But in the 10 qualification matches that followed, Netherlands recorded four wins against minnows Kazakhstan and Latvia and a draw against Turkey, losing the rest.
"There were doubts in the Netherlands about the quality of the squad already prior to the 2014 World Cup. Nobody really believed that the team would perform in Brazil," Rijkaard, 53, told German sports weekly Sport Bild.
"The team was already too bad. I think that Louis van Gaal did a fantastic job as the coach.
"Van Gaal squeezed out the Netherlands like a lemon, until the last drop. He got everything out of what was left in the team. Van Gaal did something crazy for Dutch football. He changed the tactics, because he saw that the team's just not strong enough to dominate and play attacking football."
The former Barcelona player said Netherlands had been unable to overcome the coach's departure to Manchester United
In the opening match of the 2014 World Cup against holders Spain, Van Gaal surprised by playing five at the back, with full-backs Daley Blind and Daryl Janmaat attacking when in possession.
Netherlands went on to beat Spain 5-1, and the holders never recovered.
"He installed an extra defender. That's unusual for Dutch football. But he was playing for results, and it worked out really well," Rijkaard said.
"Then he left and everything fell apart."