Kenya Sport

Netherlands Player Ratings vs Greece: Reijnders Shines in Dramatic Nations League Comeback

Tijjani Reijnders and Virgil van Dijk played key roles as the Netherlands recovered from a two-goal deficit to earn a 2-2 draw against Greece in Thessaloniki during their UEFA Nations League clash. The Dutch faced a tough first half but showed resilience to fight back.

Match Overview

The first half was rough for Xavi Hernandez's side, struggling to handle Greece’s direct play. Fotis Ioannidis scored after 23 minutes, and Giorgos Masouras added a second just before halftime. Despite holding 71% possession, the Netherlands couldn’t break through Greece’s tight defense and went into the break trailing by two goals.

The substitutions of Tijjani Reijnders and Ryan Gravenberch at halftime shifted the game's balance. Van Dijk sparked the comeback with a powerful header from a Joey Veerman corner in the 59th minute. Then, in the 89th minute, Reijnders found the net from close range to level the score. Though defensive mistakes early on caused trouble, the team's 19 shots and persistence kept their hopes alive in Group A2.

Goalkeeper & Defense

  • Bart Verbruggen: 5/10 - Faced four shots on target, conceding twice. Could not control distribution well due to limited movement ahead.
  • Denzel Dumfries: 6/10 - Worked hard on the right flank, providing much-needed width. Had a goal disallowed for offside after VAR review.
  • Jurrien Timber: 5/10 - Tried to support midfield overloads but was vulnerable in transition. Substituted in the 78th minute.
  • Virgil van Dijk: 7/10 - Led the second-half revival with a vital header. His calmness helped steady the team amid shaky defense early on.
  • Micky van de Ven: 5/10 - Key recovery speed defensively but offered little going forward despite the team’s dominance.

Midfield

  • Quinten Timber: 4/10 - Struggled to control tempo and was easily bypassed. Replaced at halftime.
  • Joey Veerman: 7/10 - The creative engine who delivered the assist for Van Dijk's goal and kept the passing rhythm.
  • Guus Til: 4/10 - Invisible in the number 10 role due to Greece's crowded midfield. Taken off at halftime.

Attack

  • Crysencio Summerville: 6/10 - Most direct attacker, drawing fouls and pressing defenders. Final passes lacked precision.
  • Ruben van Bommel: 3/10 - Poor first half; his backpass led directly to Greece's second goal. Substituted at halftime.
  • Mexx Meerdink: 5/10 - Energetic upfront but isolated and starved of service. Replaced in the 70th minute.

Substitutes and Manager

  • Tijjani Reijnders: 8/10 - Changed the match after coming on. Scored the late equalizer and energized the midfield.
  • Ryan Gravenberch: 6/10 - Added physicality and ball control in midfield from halftime.
  • Noa Lang: 7/10 - Brought flair on the left wing. Delivered excellent crosses leading to the equalizer, despite a yellow card.
  • Joshua Zirkzee: 7/10 - Nearly scored with a strong header late and assisted Reijnders’ goal with a key flick-on.
  • Gjivai Zechiel: 6/10 - A lively presence after entering in the final stages, unafraid to engage in the intense finish.
  • Xavi Hernandez: 7/10 - His starting lineup faltered early, but his tactical triple substitution at halftime turned the tide and secured a crucial point.

Upcoming Nations League Fixtures

  • Greece (GRE) vs Germany (GER) - 4 Oct 2026, 21:45
  • Netherlands (NED) vs Serbia (SER) - 4 Oct 2026, 21:45

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