Netherlands Player Ratings vs Greece: Reijnders and Van Dijk Spark Comeback in Nations League Thriller

Tijjani Reijnders and Virgil van Dijk led the Dutch resurgence after falling two goals behind, helping Xavi Hernandez's team salvage a thrilling 2-2 draw in the Nations League clash at Thessaloniki's Stadio Toumbas.

The first half was a nightmare for the visitors. Despite holding 71% possession, the Netherlands struggled to break down Greece’s stubborn defensive setup and fell behind to Fotis Ioannidis’ strike in the 23rd minute. Just before halftime, Giorgos Masouras doubled Greece’s lead, leaving the Dutch with a steep hill to climb.

The game changed drastically after halftime when Reijnders and Ryan Gravenberch entered the pitch. Van Dijk ignited the comeback by heading in a corner from Joey Veerman in the 59th minute. The pressure kept mounting, and Reijnders sealed the dramatic equalizer in the 89th minute with a precise finish from the box. Although defensive mistakes early on will frustrate the coaching staff, the resilience shown kept the Netherlands in contention in Group A2.

Goalkeeper & Defence

• Bart Verbruggen: 5/10 - Conceded twice from just four shots on target. His distribution was occasionally hampered by limited movement ahead of him.
• Denzel Dumfries: 6/10 - Hardworking on the right wing, providing needed width. Thought he scored a late equalizer, but VAR ruled it offside after review.
• Jurrien Timber: 5/10 - Tasked with midfield overloads but caught out during transitions. Substituted in the 78th minute for Gjivai Zechiel.
• Virgil van Dijk: 7/10 - Anchored the defense and sparked the comeback with a powerful header. His calm presence steadied the team amid early defensive chaos.
• Micky van de Ven: 5/10 - Vital recovery speed on the left but offered little offensively. More overlapping runs were expected given the team's dominance in possession.

Midfield

• Quinten Timber: 4/10 - Struggled to control the tempo and was easily bypassed by Greek transitions. Replaced at halftime by Gravenberch.
• Joey Veerman: 7/10 - The creative engine of the team, delivering the assist for Van Dijk’s goal and maintaining steady ball progression with 619 passes. Nearly scored with a dangerous free-kick.
• Guus Til: 4/10 - Playing as the number 10, he was largely invisible against Greece's tight midfield and was substituted at the break for a more dynamic approach.

Attack

• Crysencio Summerville: 6/10 - The most direct attacker, earning free-kicks and trying to unsettle defenders, though his final passes often lacked precision.
• Ruben van Bommel: 3/10 - Had a poor first half, struggling to contribute offensively and making a costly backpass that led to Greece’s second goal. Replaced by Noa Lang at halftime.
• Mexx Meerdink: 5/10 - Showed energy up front but rarely received service inside the box. Subbed off for Joshua Zirkzee in the 70th minute.

Substitutes and Manager

• Tijjani Reijnders: 8/10 - The catalyst after coming on at halftime, injecting urgency and scoring the crucial equalizer late in the match.
• Ryan Gravenberch: 6/10 - Improved ball retention and physicality helped dominate the second half.
• Noa Lang: 7/10 - Added creativity and chaos on the left wing. Delivered excellent crosses and earned a yellow card in a heated moment.
• Joshua Zirkzee: 7/10 - Nearly won it with a powerful header saved brilliantly, later assisting Reijnders’ equalizing goal with a key flick-on.
• Gjivai Zechiel: 6/10 - A lively late cameo, showing no hesitation to get involved during frantic closing stages.
• Xavi Hernandez: 7/10 - His initial lineup was unbalanced and caught cold by Greece’s aggressive start. The triple substitution at halftime shifted momentum and salvaged a vital point.

Match Details

• Competition: UEFA Nations League A
• Fixture: Greece vs Netherlands
• Date: 4 October 2026
• Kick-off: 21:45
• Result: 2-2 Draw