Greece came close to pulling off another shock in the UEFA Nations League after impressive wins over Serbia and Germany. The hosts dominated the first half in Thessaloniki, storming to a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Fanos Giannidis and Georgios Masouras.
However, during the interval, the visitors’ coach Xavi made a decisive triple substitution, bringing on Ryan Gravenberch, Guus Til Reinders, and Jurrien Timber Lang. This tactical shift transformed the Dutch side’s performance. Virgil van Dijk pulled a goal back from a corner early in the second half, while a potential brace from Denzel Dumfries was ruled out for offside. The equalizer came late in the 89th minute through Reinders, rescuing a point for the Netherlands.
UEFA Nations League 2026-27
Greece 2–2 Netherlands (2–0)
Goals: Giannidis F., 23′ (1–0); Masouras G., 45′ (2–0); van Dijk, 59′ (2–1); Reinders, 89′ (2–2)
Greece lineup: Tzolakis; Mavropanos; Retsos; Saliakas; Tsimikas; Kourbelis; Pavlidis E. (Zafeiris, 71′); Androutsos (Douvikas, 83′); Tsolis (Masouras G., 18′); Karetsas (Michailidis, 83′); Giannidis F. (Tetteh, 71′)
Substitutions: Masouras G. (from 18′); Zafeiris (from 71′); Tetteh (from 71′); Michailidis (from 83′); Douvikas (from 83′)
Reserves: Vlachodimos; Mandas; Tsapras; Koulierakis; Kyriakopoulos; Mouzakitis; Kostoulas
Yellow cards: Tzolakis 67′; Saliakas 76′
Netherlands lineup: Verbruggen; van Dijk; Timber J. (Zehiël, 78′); van de Ven; Dumfries; Til G. (Reinders, 46′); Veerman J.; Summerville; van Bommel R. (Lang N., 46′); Timber K. (Gravenberch R., 46′); Merdink (Zirkzee, 70′)
Substitutions: Gravenberch R. (from 46′); Reinders (from 46′); Lang N. (from 46′); Zirkzee (from 70′); Zehiël (from 78′)
Reserves: Ruufs; Flecken; Frimpong J.; Hato; Aké; Koopmeiners T.; Taylor K.
Yellow cards: Lang N. 76′
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