A disallowed goal, a nasty injury scare and a Dutch comeback from two goals down
Two goals up. One minute from glory. Then Tijjani Reijnders struck, and a famous Greek win turned into a heartbreaking draw.
On a wild Thursday night in Thessaloniki, Greece showed again why nobody wants to play them, while the Netherlands showed the kind of spirit that wins big tournaments. Here is the full story.
The Build Up
Giant killers meet the Dutch
Greece arrived on a wave of joy. They had just beaten Germany for the first time in their history, and the Toumba Stadium was ready to celebrate. In their first ever League A campaign, they were showing that they belonged among the best.
The Netherlands came with a new coach and a point to prove. Xavi Hernández had taken over a team that had drawn 1 to 1 with Germany in the opening game. The visitors had the big names, but Greece had the momentum.
The big question was whether Greece could keep the party going. They had already caused plenty of trouble for both Germany and the Dutch, and a win would have given them three wins from three at the top of Group A2.
First Half
Greece roar, Tzolis limps off
Greece started with fire in their boots. They attacked from the first whistle, and inside the first quarter of an hour they thought they had scored. Christos Tzolis hit a shot into the bottom right corner, but the goal was cancelled because Vangelis Pavlidis was in an offside position and blocked goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen’s view.
Then came a real blow. Tzolis, the Arsenal winger, pulled up during an attack. He wanted to play on, but he had to go off in the 18th minute. Giorgos Masouras came on in his place, and nobody knew yet how important that change would be.
For Greece it was a flying start in every way. They pressed high, won the second balls and made the Dutch players uncomfortable. The disallowed goal showed how dangerous the home team were from the very first minutes, and the crowd could sense that a famous night was coming.
In the 23rd minute Fotis Ioannidis made no mistake. He finished tidily to give Greece the lead, and the stadium shook. Just before the break, Ioannidis pounced on a poor Dutch back pass and set up Masouras, who made it 2 to 0 in first half stoppage time.
The Netherlands had most of the ball but could not break through a compact Greek defence. They walked off to whistles, two goals down and in deep trouble.
Second Half
Xavi’s masterstroke, Reijnders’ dagger
Xavi did not wait. At half time he made a triple substitution, bringing on Reijnders, Ryan Gravenberch and Noa Lang and switching to a diamond in midfield. It changed everything.
Greece were suddenly under siege. In the 59th minute Virgil van Dijk, playing his 99th game for the Netherlands, rose to head the ball in and give his team hope. The Dutch also saw two goals disallowed in the second half, and Greece were hanging on for dear life.
The Greek bench could only watch as the Dutch pushed forward wave after wave. The two disallowed goals gave Greece a little luck, but the pressure was simply too much to hold back for ever.
Still, it looked like Greece might survive. Then in the 89th minute, Joshua Zirkzee helped the ball into the path of Reijnders, who fired home from the centre of the penalty area. It was 2 to 2, and the Greek fans were left stunned.
Beyond the Pitch
Quotes, injuries and numbers
Xavi took the blame afterwards for his team’s poor first half, and he said the change to a diamond midfield helped his side find their rhythm. It was an honest and brave reaction from a young coach.
Ioannidis was honest too. He said the Dutch changed their tactics in the second half and Greece did not respond well enough.
The injury news was worrying for Greece. Tzolis had started all five of Arsenal’s Premier League games this season, and the extent of his injury was not yet confirmed. He was the second Arsenal forward hurt during the break, after Germany’s Kai Havertz suffered a setback a week earlier.
For the Netherlands it was a classic escape. They have now scored late equalisers in two of their three Nations League games, which shows the character of this team.
Where It Leaves Both Teams
Both sides stay unbeaten
After this game Greece had seven points and stayed unbeaten at the top of Group A2, while the Dutch had five points from three games. Both teams kept their dreams alive.
Three days later the table got even tighter. Greece drew 0 to 0 with Germany, while the Netherlands beat Serbia 2 to 1, and both teams finished the break on eight points. The Dutch edged ahead on goals scored.
Xavi Hernández has now seen his team escape from a tough spot, and for Greece the lesson is clear. They can compete with the best teams in Europe, but they must learn to protect a lead when the pressure comes.
Only the top two go through to the quarter finals, so this group is shaping up to be a thriller when the action returns in November.
Featured image: Photo: Sascha H., Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
