The Netherlands national team secured a 2-2 draw against Greece at the Toumba Stadium in Thessaloniki on Thursday, a result that felt like a missed opportunity for the visitors after a disjointed first half. The tactical setup implemented by head coach Xavi Hernández left the Dutch side vulnerable early on, resulting in a 2-0 deficit that the team only managed to overcome in the closing stages of the match.
Tactical Miscalculations in Thessaloniki
Xavi Hernández surprised many by selecting a midfield trio of Joey Veerman, Quinten Timber, and Guus Til. This formation deviated significantly from the lineups used against Germany and Serbia, failing to provide the expected control.
Former striker Wim Kieft was particularly critical of this choice, writing in his column for De Telegraaf that Timber played with too much haste and lacked the discipline to dictate the game, while Til appeared ill-suited for a starting role in this tactical setup. Xavi himself admitted after the match that he may have made a mistake with his personnel choices, though he had defended the strategy to ESPN before kickoff, citing the need for specific profiles to counter the physicality of the Greek side.
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Greece Takes Lead Through Ioannidis and Masouras
Fotis Ioannidis gave the hosts a deserved lead midway through the first half as Greece, ranked 40th in the FIFA world rankings, exploited the gaps in the Dutch formation. The pressure from the home side was constant, with the visitors struggling to find a rhythm. Just before the halftime whistle, a misplayed back-pass from debutant Ruben van Bommel allowed Georgios Masouras to double the lead, leaving the Netherlands with a significant challenge heading into the break.
The Dutch team appeared “loom en gemakzuchtig” (listless and complacent) throughout the opening 45 minutes, frequently losing duels and struggling with sloppy passing. Captain Virgil van Dijk did not mince words when speaking to the NOS, describing the first half as “unacceptable.”
Xavi Makes Substitutions to Secure Equalizer
At halftime, Xavi moved to rectify his initial errors by substituting Ryan Gravenberch and Tijjani Reijnders for Quinten Timber and Guus Til, while Noa Lang replaced Ruben van Bommel. These changes immediately stabilized the midfield, allowing Joey Veerman to dictate play more effectively from the center.
The tactical shift eventually paid dividends. Virgil van Dijk narrowed the gap with a header just before the hour mark, and the team maintained consistent pressure on the Greek defense for the remainder of the match. Tijjani Reijnders eventually scored the equalizer in the closing minutes, securing a point that was characterized as feeling “almost like a win” given the team’s dismal start.
Questions Regarding Roster Depth
Despite the successful comeback, the match raised concerns about the depth of the current squad. Wim Kieft argued that Xavi remains heavily dependent on a select few players to execute his vision, noting that the team lacks the flexibility to rotate key personnel without a significant drop in performance. While Xavi’s willingness to take public responsibility for his tactical errors earned him some praise, the underlying question remains: how quickly can the broader squad adapt to the high standards required by the new coaching staff?
The Dutch national team now faces the challenge of building on the resilience shown in the second half while addressing the consistency issues that nearly cost them the match in Thessaloniki.
