The Netherlands moved to the verge of securing a Nations League quarter-final berth after delivering a clinical 7-0 demolition of Greece in Amsterdam on Friday. The result, headlined by a spectacular first-half hat-trick from Tijjani Reijnders, leaves the Dutch firmly in control of Group A2 with one round of matches remaining.
Crysencio Summerville set the tone for the evening, capitalising on a defensive error to hand the hosts an early lead. From there, the momentum shifted decisively in favour of the Netherlands, with Reijnders taking centre stage to dismantle the Greek backline before the interval.
Reijnders Leads Ruthless Dutch Attack
Reijnders doubled the advantage shortly after the opener, before finding the net again from close range to extend the lead. The midfielder capped a remarkable individual performance by completing his hat-trick in the 33rd minute, squeezing a finish home at the far post to put the game beyond reach.
The onslaught continued as Jurrien Timber converted a Donyell Malen cross to make it 5-0 before the half-time whistle. The Arsenal defender remained involved in the action after the break, netting his second goal of the night on the hour mark. Donyell Malen eventually rounded off the scoring with a crisp first-time strike, sealing a comprehensive victory against a Greek side that struggled to find any rhythm.
Reaction and Group Standings
Reflecting on the performance, Netherlands coach Xavi Hernandez praised his squad's intensity. Speaking to UEFA, he noted that while the first half was exceptional, the team must maintain this level of focus moving forward. Conversely, Greece winger Christos Tzolis admitted the visitors were overwhelmed, describing the display as the worst performance by the national team in recent memory.
The victory puts the Netherlands on 11 points, three clear of both Greece and Germany. With the significant goal difference advantage gained from this result, the Dutch are effectively through to the quarter-finals. The final round of group fixtures will see the Netherlands travel to Berlin to face Germany, while Greece will host Serbia, who remain without a point following their 3-1 defeat to Germany in Belgrade.
