Record-breaking birthday boy Sneijder scores in Dutch win

Football Soccer - Netherlands v Luxembourg - World Cup 2018 Qualifier - De Kuip Stadion, Rotterdam, Netherlands - 09/06/17 - Netherlands’ Wesley Sneijder in action. REUTERS/Michael Kooren

ROTTERDAM(Reuters) - Wesley Sneijder marked his birthday and a record 131st appearance for the Netherlands with a goal as the Dutch beat Luxembourg 5-0 in a World Cup qualifier on Friday to stay in contention for a trip to Russia next year.

Captain Arjen Robben, Georginio Wijnaldum, Quincy Promes and Vincent Janssen added the other goals but it was the 33-year-old Sneijder, breaking Edwin van der Sar’s record number of caps, who was the star in Dick Advocaat’s first game back as coach.

The win left the Dutch in third place in Group A, three points behind co-leaders Sweden and France.

Football Soccer - Netherlands v Luxembourg - World Cup 2018 Qualifier - De Kuip Stadion, Rotterdam, Netherlands - 09/06/17 - Netherlands’ Wesley Sneijder and Luxemburg’s Christopher Martins in action. REUTERS/Michael Kooren

Robben opened the scoring in the 21st minute after Wesley Hoedt had won possession and played a precise through ball for his captain to run on to.

Sneijder netted the second 13 minutes later, repaying Advocaat’s faith in starting him, after being set up by Memphis Depay.

Joel Veltman broke down the right to set up the third goal as Janssen missed out with a sliding effort but Wijnaldum was following up to finish.

Football Soccer - Netherlands v Luxembourg - World Cup 2018 Qualifier - De Kuip Stadion, Rotterdam, Netherlands - 09/06/17 - Netherlands’ Wesley Sneijder and Netherlands’ Arjen Robben celebrate a goal. REUTERS/Michael Kooren

Promes scored the fourth in the 70th minute, arriving unmarked at the back post to head home Stefan de Vrij’s cross.

With six minutes left Janssen was brought down by Luxembourg goalkeeper Ralph Schon and got up to hammer home the resultant spot-kick.

The Dutch next meet France away in Paris on Aug. 31 in their bid to fight back from a poor start to the qualifiers.

Football Soccer - Netherlands v Luxembourg - World Cup 2018 Qualifier - De Kuip Stadion, Rotterdam, Netherlands - 09/06/17 - Netherlands’ Vincent Jansen and Luxemburg’s Enes Mahmutovic in action. REUTERS/Michael Kooren

Their 2-0 loss in Bulgaria in March led to coach Danny Blind being fired before Advocaat returned for a third spell as national team coach.

(Reporting by Mark Gleeson; Editing by Ed Osmond)

Football Soccer - Netherlands v Luxembourg - World Cup 2018 Qualifier - De Kuip Stadion, Rotterdam, Netherlands - 09/06/17 - Luxemburg’s Sebastien Thill (R) in action. REUTERS/Michael Kooren

Football Soccer - Netherlands v Luxembourg - World Cup 2018 Qualifier - De Kuip Stadion, Rotterdam, Netherlands - 09/06/17 - Netherlands’ Wesley Sneijder and Netherlands’ Arjen Robben celebrate a goal. REUTERS/Michael Kooren

Football Soccer - Netherlands v Luxembourg - World Cup 2018 Qualifier - De Kuip Stadion, Rotterdam, Netherlands - 09/06/17 - Luxembourg's goalkeeper Ralph Schon reacts after a goal. REUTERS/Michael Kooren

Football Soccer - Netherlands v Luxembourg - World Cup 2018 Qualifier - De Kuip Stadion, Rotterdam, Netherlands - 09/06/17 - Netherlands' coach Dick Advocaat and assistant coach Ruud Gullit are seen before the match against Luxembourg. REUTERS/Michael Kooren

Football Soccer - Netherlands v Luxembourg - World Cup 2018 Qualifier - De Kuip Stadion, Rotterdam, Netherlands - 09/06/17 - Referee Bartosz Frankowski of Poland shows a yellow card to Luxemburg’s Laurent Jans. REUTERS/Michael Kooren

Football Soccer - Netherlands v Luxembourg - World Cup 2018 Qualifier - De Kuip Stadion, Rotterdam, Netherlands - 09/06/17 - Netherlands’ Arjen Robben scores. REUTERS/Michael Kooren

Football Soccer - Netherlands v Luxembourg - World Cup 2018 Qualifier - De Kuip Stadion, Rotterdam, Netherlands - 09/06/17 - Netherlands’ Arjen Robben reacts. REUTERS/Michael Kooren

Football Soccer - Netherlands v Luxembourg - World Cup 2018 Qualifier - De Kuip Stadion, Rotterdam, Netherlands - 09/06/17 - Netherlands’ Arjen Robben scores. REUTERS/Michael Kooren

Football Soccer - Netherlands v Luxembourg - World Cup 2018 Qualifier - De Kuip Stadion, Rotterdam, Netherlands - 09/06/17 - Netherlands’ Georginio Wijnaldum and Luxembourg’s Gerson Rodrigues in action. REUTERS/Michael Kooren

Football Soccer - Netherlands v Luxembourg - World Cup 2018 Qualifier - De Kuip Stadion, Rotterdam, Netherlands - 09/06/17 - Dutch players react after a goal. REUTERS/Michael Kooren