News » But he deserves time, of course.NEW C

AMSTERDAM - The Netherlands outclassed Latvia in a morale-boosting 6-0 win Sunday in European qualifying that eased pressure on coach Guus Hiddink after four defeats in his first five matches.The Czech Republic went top of Group A with four wins out of four by beating Iceland 2-1 in Plzen thanks to a Pavel Kaderabek header in first-half injury time and a second-half own goal by Jon Dadi Bodvarsson. Iceland, which dropped to second after suffering its first defeat in qualifying, had taken an early lead through Ragnar Sigurdsson.Arjen Robben and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar both scored twice while Robin van Persie and Jeffrey Bruma also found the net as the Dutch got their European Championship Group A qualifying campaign back on track. The Netherlands remained third, but moved closer to second-placed Iceland.After losing three of his first four matches in charge, Hiddink suggested last week that he would quit if the Netherlands failed to beat Latvia. His team also lost Wednesday to Mexico in a friendly to make it four defeats out of five matches since finishing third at the World Cup in Brazil under Louis van Gaal.He never looked likely to lose his job. And Hiddink was safe by half time as his front three of Van Persie, Robben and Huntelaar gave him a comfortable 3-0 cushion at the break.Its not important, Hiddink said of his threat to quit. What is important is we played well tonight in a crucial match.Van Persie opened the scoring, rising to head home a Robben cross in just the 6th minute. Robben — the Netherlands most dangerous player — doubled the lead in the 35th when he sent a trademark curling left-foot shot over goalkeeper Aleksandrs Kolinko despite being surrounded by four Latvia defenders.Huntelaar made it three in the 42nd when he sprinted to the near post to slide in a low cross from the left by Ibrahim Afellay.Van Persie admitted the poor string of results had been getting to him.There was a lot of pressure from all sides, he said. I was more nervous than usual. Were only human.Latvia defended better in the second half, but eventually crumbled as the Netherlands poured forward and scored three times in the last 12 minutes.Defender Jeffrey Bruma scored his first international goal when he turned in a corner that had been flicked on by Van Persie.Robben grabbed his second with another left-foot shot and Huntelaar doubled his tally in the 89th, turning smartly and drilling a low shot under Kolinkos outstretched hand.Turkey recorded its first win in Group A by beating Kazakhstan 3-1 in Istanbul. The defeat lifted Turkey off the bottom of the group into fourth place, behind the Dutch. Kazakhstan is last, with just one point from four qualifiers. Latvia is one point higher in fifth.Burak Yilmaz scored twice in three minutes in the first half and Serdar Aziz made it 3-0 in the 83rd minute before Samat Smakov scored a consolation goal for Kazakhstan from the penalty spot.In bad news for Manchester United, midfielder Daley Blind limped off in just the 20th minute against Latvia after injuring his knee and Hiddink said it looks serious. Blind was to undergo an MRI scan Monday.Im rather negative, Hiddink said. I think its a medial ligament that is twisted. It might be a rupture. Cheap MLB Jerseys . The Wizards announced Friday that Webster had surgery to repair a herniated disc in his lower back. The operation was performed Thursday in Los Angeles. Cheap MLB Jerseys China . "All he says is, its crazy," DeMar DeRozan told reporters following Torontos win over the Pistons Wednesday. The Raptors longest-serving members, Johnson and DeRozan have had two coaches and 56 different teammates in five seasons with the club, all without appearing in a single playoff game. http://www.wholesalemlbauthenticjerseys.com/ .ca has you covered for whos in, whos out and what to expect from all 30 teams. MLB Jerseys From China . Rosbergs time of 1 minute, 33.185 seconds at the Bahrain International Circuit was a quarter of a second faster than Hamilton, who had to abandon his final flying lap after running wide at the first corner. Cheap NFL Jerseys Online .com) - James van Riemsdyk had two goals with one assist to help the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 5-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday night.Tony Romo, Dez Bryant and the rest of the Dallas Cowboys head into Sundays game against the Colts leading the NFC East and on the verge of a playoff berth. A ton of the credit for that should go to head coach Jason Garretts assistants.Garretts the one thought to be on the hot seat entering the season. Hes the one who has owner Jerry Jones whisper in his ear on the sideline. And hes the one whos likely to receive plenty of praise from fans if the Cowboys do return to the post-season for the first time since 2009.Truth is, Garrett has become little more than a caretaker for Dallas (10-4). Its the folks working under him who are steering a team that was supposed to be an also-ran to respectability — and their contributions are about as underappreciated as it gets in todays NFL.I feel really good about where our co-ordinators are in running their different units and how our position coaches are coaching, Garrett said. Its my job to oversee it and create an environment for them where they can be successful.Last off-seasons shuffle is working.Coming off three consecutive 8-8 finishes, Dallas demoted defensive co-ordinator Monte Kiffin and removed Bill Callahan as play caller. Now Scott Linehan calls plays (something Garrett used to do), helping turn running back DeMarco Murray into a star. Callahan, meanwhile, has thrived while focusing on what is probably the leagues top offensive line.New defensive co-ordinator Rod Marinelli has overseen significant improvement, while linebackers coach Matt Eberflus has produced a pretty good group despite the loss of Sean Lee and others to injury.In general, assistant coaches do not get a lot of publicity or kudos — this season, for the first time, the AP NFL awards will include one for top assistant — but Dallas group deserves both.Heres a look at some other underappreciated — and overblown — aspects of the NFL:UNDERAPPRECIATED:BUFFALOS Defence: Presumably, Mario Williams & Co. will finally start to get the wide acclaim they deserve after holding Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers to a combined zero touchdown passes and four interceptions over the past two weeks.BOBBY WAGNER: With the linebacker back from a right foot injury, the Seahawks are 4-0 and allowing 6.75 points per game.dddddddddddd Asked about his five-game absence hurting his cause for awards or recognition, Wagner replied: Thats fine. Who has been the best backer on the field when hes been on the field?ARIZONAS HOME EDGE: That New England, Denver and Green Bay are unbeaten at home should surprise no one. That Arizona takes a 7-0 home mark into its showdown with Seattle on Sunday night? Now thats remarkable.DENVERS DEFENSIVE DUO: A lot of attention was paid when the Broncos added Aqib Talib, DeMarcus Ware and T.J. Ward. Less-known Chris Harris Jr. and Brandon Marshall (aka the other Brandon Marshall) have been a big part of Denvers success, even if fans arent racing to vote them into the Pro Bowl.REDSKINS CAPACITY FOR DYSFUNCTION: Seemingly boundless.OVERBLOWN:PATRIOTS DEMISE: That 41-14 loss at Kansas City in Week 4, the one that had folks wondering when Tom Brady would retire and whether Bill Belichicks magic was gone, sure seems long ago now, doesnt it?JOHNNY FOOTBALL: OK, its only one game, but Johnny Manziels NFL debut as a starting quarterback for the Browns was a doozy: 80 yards passing, two interceptions, three sacks, and zero points. Certainly not the stuff that justifies his hype. But he deserves time, of course.NEW COACHES: When Lovie Smith was introduced as Tampa Bays head coach, he averred, Its time for us to become a relevant team again. So much for the idea that a new coach can help things improve right away. The Bucs are 2-12; even worse, Ken Whisenhunts Titans are 2-13. Jay Grudens Redskins are 3-11 (see above). On the other hand, Jim Caldwell (Detroit) and Bill OBrien (Houston) have done a fine job in Year 1.CAM NEWTON, COLIN KAEPERNICK, ROBERT GRIFFIN III: The toast of the NFL not too long ago, none of that trio of QBs looks ready for prime time lately.SAINTS HOME EDGE: New Orleans was unbeaten at home for more than a season before the current 0-4 rut in its dome heading into Sunday against Atlanta.___AP Sports Writers Schuyler Dixon in Irving, Texas, and Tim Booth in Renton, Washington, contributed to this report.___Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich___Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '