The Netherlands all but secured their place in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Nations League in style as Tijjani Reijnders scored a first-half hat-trick in a 7-0 rout of Greece.
Dominant Display in Amsterdam
Netherlands and Greece went into the game tied on points at the top of Group A2, and the visitors would have clinched qualification for the knockout rounds with a win. Xavi’s Netherlands side needed a late equaliser to claim a 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture, but they were utterly dominant in Amsterdam as Greece saw their hopes of progression severely dented, with Germany moving level with Ivan Jovanovic’s men with a 3-1 win over Serbia.
The hosts took the lead through Crysencio Summerville as he fired home in the sixth minute after Greece lost possession deep in their own half. Reijnders then fired his first into the roof of the net to make it 2-0, and doubled his tally with a simple finish from point-blank range after Donyell Malen had hooked the ball across goal.
First-Half Hat-Trick and Further Goals
Fotis Ioannidis saw a goal ruled out at the other end, the Greece striker tucked into an empty net after winning a challenge with the onrushing Bart Verbruggen, but handled the ball as he controlled it. Greece’s frustration was furthered as Reijnders then put the game beyond doubt inside 33 minutes, sliding home his third at the far post from Jurrien Timber’s cross after a superb pass from Joey Veerman sent the Arsenal full-back through down the right.
Timber then made it 5-0 as he converted from a right-wing cross from the excellent Malen, and he doubled his tally shortly before the hour mark by turning in from Denzel Dumfries’ cross to the far post. Malen then got the goal his performance deserved as his whipped finish proved too strong for Konstantinos Tzolakis and nestled in the far corner.
Greece eventually succeeded in stemming the tide but they will now need a favour from Netherlands. Should Germany beat Xavi’s men, then Greece’s result against Serbia will essentially be irrelevant, as the top three teams finishing level on 11 points would leave Greece with a vastly inferior goal difference in games between the trio, causing them to miss out on the last eight.
