The Netherlands has missed out on qualifying for the final of the Eurovision Song Festival for the first time in eight years.

The song Burning Daylight performed by Mia Nicolai and Dion Cooper failed to ignite voters enough to put the Dutch through to Saturday’s final in Liverpool. Ten of the 15 entries were selected and will join the winners of the second semi-final later this week.

The duo’s performance in recent weeks had been beset by problems and the song was altered in the run-up to the semi-final on Tuesday night, raising questions about how the Netherlands selects its Eurovision entry.

‘We are going home with our heads held high,’ the duo said after the vote, which did not include a professional jury for the first time this year.

The last time the Netherlands failed to reach the final was in 2015, when Trijntje Oosterhuis was 14th in the semi-final. Nicolai and Cooper’s score will be revealed later.