Tijjani Reijnders scored a late volley seven yards out from goal to at least grab a point for the Netherlands, as Xavi’s depleted side conceded first yet again, and climb to second in league A group 2 with three games to go in this UEFA Nations League Group Stage.

Greece gameplan neutralises Netherlands Progression

Greece took the lead through Fotis Ioannidis, after Hull City goalkeeper Tzolakis punted the ball long up to Masouras, substituted on for Arsenal winger Christos Tzolis due to an injury precaution. As the former was keeping Jurrien Timber occupied and heading the ball beyond the back-line for Ioannidis to chase, the left flank was completely open for him to be released. He finished this artificial transition move off with a composed pass/shot, low into the bottom-right corner, for 1-0.

Just as half-time approached, the hosts grabbed another through the substitute Masouras, as he put away a fizzed in delivery from Loannidis, after the latter robbed Van Brommel of possession, and the stadium went wild for what they hoped would be their third consecutive win in Group 2.

Xavi’s half-time substitutes establish control in the second half for the Netherlands

Having been without Cody Gakpo, Donyell Malen and Justin Kluivert, Xavi turned to Noa Lang to inject not just some pace into the forward areas, but the balance and agility on the ball to give the opposite fullback a problem, and give more space on the edge of their own box when the Dutch had numerical superiorities in those areas.

Tijjani Reijnders replaced Guus Til, and Ryan Gravenberch replaced Quentin Timber, and the visitors’ movement and rotations grew more frequent and synchronised, leading to Greece having to drop into a mid to low-block 4-4-2 shape, to screen the central areas as they were being overloaded by sometimes an extra, or even two extra players to make progression more direct into wide areas, where Summerville and Lang were positioned. Virgil Van Dijk directed an outswinging corner from Denzel Dumfries into the near post, the Real Madrid right-back had two goals disallowed on the night, both in the second half.

After a dominant showing for the entire second half from the Dutch, they equalised on 88 minutes. Noa Lang drifted from the left flank, floating a cross into a dangerous area, as Mavropanos failed to clear his lines, which allowed Reijnders to volley a close-range finish at the near-post. It proved to be a consolation of a point for the visiting team, despite having registered fourteen shots on goal in the second half compared to Greece’s one, with 76% of the possession going their way too.

Xavi’s side yet again had problems to solve in the first half with their positional principles not being allowed to lead to anything really meaningfully progressive in the middle and final third, but their second half performances have been the most dominant spells in the Nations League so far in this group stage.

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