Patrick Kluivert temporarily replaces Guus Hiddink as Curaçao national coach, reports The Telegraph Friday. 74-year-old Hiddink is currently recovering from the coronavrius and has asked Kluivert to step in as interim national coach for the coming period. Although Kluivert is under contract with Barcelona as head of the youth academy, chairman Joan Laporta has given permission to the former attacker, partly because of his personal relationship with the two Dutchmen.
Hiddink started the World Cup qualifying series with Curaçao in March. His team recorded victories over Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (5-0) and Cuba (1-2). Because of the victories, Curaçao is currently in the lead in Group C, in which Guatemala and the British Virgin Islands are also the opponents. An away game against the British Virgin Islands is scheduled for June 5, after which the first round of the home qualifiers against Guatemala will conclude on June 8.
Hiddink is unable to attend the upcoming international match period and has therefore asked Kluivert to temporarily take over the helm. The 79-time international of the Dutch was already the national coach of the Curaçao national team between 2015 and 2017. He is thanked by the football association “for his availability and willingness to take the team under his wing for the coming period”. If Curaçao finishes in first place in the group, games will follow on June 12 and June 15 against the winner of Group D.
At the moment, the Dominican Republic and Panama are leading Group D together with six points, although the Dominican Republic’s goal difference is better (+7 to +2). Curaçao is also first based on goal difference, with the same number of points as number two Guatemala. If the island state makes it to the next round and survives the diptych, a final group stage with eight teams from the CONCACAF region awaits. The top three teams qualify directly for the World Cup in Qatar; the number four plays intercontinental play-offs.
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