Netherlands fail to qualify for Euro 2016: the best memes as Robin van Persie slated after own goal gaffe

Netherlands will not be playing in Euro 2016, after Robin van Persie and team-mates were defeated 3-2 by the Czech Republic last night.

The last time they failed to qualify for a major tournament was the 2002 World Cup. Before that, they were absent from the 1982 and 1986 tournaments and from the 1984 European Championship.

Van Persie, the former Arsenal and Manchester United striker, put the ball into his own net for the Czech's third of the game in bizarre fashion, heading past goalkeeper Jeroen Zoet after finding himself free in the box. It was a lovely cushioned header, juts at the wrong end.

Unsurprsingly, social media was awash with memes and comments poking fun at the once great side. Here is some of the best reaction:

Van Persie, who now plays his club football for Fenerbahce, would later score for the right team, netting the Netherland's second goal with seven minutes to play, but it was a case of too little too late.