Pantelis Hatzidiakos steps onto the pitch at the Johan Cruijff Arena with his entire family watching from the stands, holding deep ties to the nation where he developed his professional career.
Born on the Greek island of Rhodes to a Greek father and a Dutch mother, the central defender feels culturally and athletically linked to the Netherlands, NOS Voetbal reported.
“My family will be in the stands,” Hatzidiakos said, noting that his relatives are split between supporting the home side and the visitors. “My in-laws are cheering for the Netherlands, the rest for Greece, I think.”
Leaving the youth academy of Panathinaikos at age 14, Hatzidiakos spent 12 years in the AZ Alkmaar youth system before rising to become club captain.
“I like to play from the back, have a lot of possession, keep control and dominate the match,” Hatzidiakos told NOS Voetbal, reflecting on the style instilled during his time in the Eredivisie.
“When you have the ball, you dictate the tempo. That is the football I like to see and play. I took that with me from the Netherlands. My first touch, my passing, short and long, I learned that there.”
While Greek players previously had to move abroad early to secure opportunities, the national team now features rising young talent from domestic clubs and top European leagues alike.
Hatzidiakos points to players such as 18-year-old Borussia Dortmund midfielder Konstantinos Karetsas and 19-year-old Brighton & Hove Albion forward Charalampos Kostoulas as evidence of a generational shift known in Greece as anagenissi, or rebirth.
“They give young players much more chances in Greece now than before,” Hatzidiakos said, referencing domestic regulations requiring clubs to include youth prospects in matchday squads.
Greece enters the fixture following a strong group stage run that included away victories against Serbia and Germany alongside draws with the Netherlands and Germany.
Having recovered from a calf injury that kept him out of the opening four Nations League matches, the FC Kopenhagen defender acknowledges that while Dutch football emphasizes fluid possession, the Greek national team adapts its approach based on the opponent.
“I like to play nice, free-flowing football, that’s how I grew up,” Hatzidiakos told NOS Voetbal. “In the Netherlands that might be the most important thing, but for us in Greece it’s mainly about getting results.”
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