The Netherlands produced a devastating attacking display in UEFA Nations League Group A2 on Friday, thrashing Greece 7-0 at home as Tijjani Reijnders scored a first-half hat-trick. Germany earned a 3-1 away win against Serbia in Belgrade in the other Group A2 match. The results leave the Netherlands top on 11 points, with Germany and Greece level on eight, and two quarterfinal places set to be decided on Monday.
Key Takeaways: The Netherlands led 5-0 at half-time and finished with seven goals; Reijnders scored three, Jurrien Timber two, and Crysencio Summerville and Donyell Malen one each. Germany’s win in Belgrade was built on an early own goal, Florian Wirtz’s rebound finish and Brajan Gruda’s solo effort. Germany host the Netherlands in Berlin on Monday, while Greece host Serbia.
Greece and the Netherlands both entered the match unbeaten, but the Dutch destroyed the visitors with a relentless attacking performance. The hosts pressed high, exploited mistakes near the Greek penalty area and effectively settled the contest before half-time. The victory strengthened the Netherlands’ quarterfinal ambitions, while Greece now face a difficult final group fixture in a tight three-way race.
The opening goal came in the sixth minute after Greece lost possession close to their own area. Konstantinos Mavropanos failed to control the ball, it fell to Summerville, and he slipped his shot past the goalkeeper. Joey Veerman then threaded a pass through to Reijnders, whose strike found the roof of the net from the edge of the six-yard area in the 12th minute. Six minutes later Reijnders finished off Malen’s pass across goal. He completed his hat-trick with a simple tap-in after Denzel Dumfries nodded the ball down in the six-yard box, and Timber netted from close range with Malen providing another assist. Timber’s second came after Dumfries’ cross was pushed away by the goalkeeper, and Malen got his well-deserved goal following neat skill and a lay-off from Dumfries.
Jurgen Klopp had a difficult start to life as Germany’s manager, winning just one of his opening four games, also against Serbia. Klopp used his first international window to experiment with a 44-man roster split into two separate squads, but his chosen 11 put in a dominant display under heavy rain in Belgrade, especially in the opening half. Germany went in front after a Kai Havertz header went in off Babic, and when Havertz had a shot parried away by goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, Wirtz was there to convert the rebound. Klopp’s side missed chances to finish off the game in the first half but looked well in control after Gruda’s solo goal. Gruda collected Joshua Kimmich’s pass inside his own half, drove forward largely unopposed and drilled a low shot into the far corner from outside the area. Babic’s goal gave Serbia hope, while Germany continued to attack. Kimmich had a goal ruled out for offside, and Derry Scherhant hit the post before Vanja Dragojevic’s red card in the 74th minute. Serbia had another substitute, Andrija Zivkovic, sent off late on.
In other groups, Switzerland earned promotion to League A thanks to a 0-0 draw in Slovenia, while Scotland earned a 2-1 win over North Macedonia thanks to a John McGinn double. Scotland captain Andy Robertson made a record-equalling 102nd appearance, drawing level with Kenny Dalglish. Slovakia were held to a 2-2 draw at home by the Faroe Islands in Group C3, but the point was enough for the hosts to clinch promotion. Iceland romped to a 5-0 win in Bulgaria to remain top of Group C4, with Andri Gudjohnsen providing a hat-trick. The focus now shifts to Monday’s decisive fixtures, with Germany hosting the Netherlands in Berlin and Greece welcoming Serbia.
Source: www.aljazeera.com