Reijnders scored three in 21 minutes, and the Netherlands have beaten Greece 7-0 to equal the Nations League record
Xavi’s side were 5-0 up at half-time in Amsterdam, and Greece now need Germany to slip up in Berlin to stay in the quarter-final race.
Nov 14, 2026
The Netherlands were five goals up at half-time against Greece on Friday, 13 November, and finished 7-0 winners at the Johan Cruijff ArenA in Amsterdam. Tijjani Reijnders scored a first-half hat-trick, Jurriën Timber scored twice and Crysencio Summerville and Donyell Malen got the others.
It equals the biggest winning margin in Nations League history. Germany also won 7-0, against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Freiburg in November 2024. Greece had not conceded seven goals in a game since they lost 7-1 to Denmark in Copenhagen in May 1989.
Three goals in 21 minutes
Summerville opened the scoring in the sixth minute after a mistake at the back. Reijnders then scored in the 12th, 18th and 33rd minutes.
Timber made it 5-0 before the break, finishing a cross from Malen. He scored again just before the hour, and Malen added the seventh a couple of minutes later. Reijnders, the former Manchester City midfielder, came off soon after with his evening’s work long finished.
On 1 October, Greece had led the Netherlands 2-0 in Thessaloniki, before Reijnders scored an 89th-minute equaliser for 2-2. They had also taken four points off Germany. On Friday they were never in it. “There’s not much to say about today,” winger Christos Tzolis said.
Xavi is still unbeaten
Xavi took over in August, after Ronald Koeman left following the World Cup defeat by Morocco in the round of 32. He is the first foreign coach of the Netherlands since Ernst Happel. In five Nations League games he has won three and drawn two.
He did not get carried away. “The first half was amazing, so I have to congratulate the players. But it’s just one game,” he told UEFA.
Monday decides the rest of Group A2
The Netherlands are top on 11 points and as good as sure of a quarter-final place. Greece and Germany both have eight, after Germany won 3-1 in Belgrade the same night. Serbia have lost all five games.
The last round is on Monday, 16 November. The Netherlands go to Berlin to play Germany, and Greece host Serbia in Volos. If Germany win in Berlin, Greece are out whatever they do against Serbia. Even a win in Volos would only leave three teams level on 11 points, and Ivan Jovanović’s side would lose that tie on head-to-head goal difference, where Friday’s 7-0 counts against them.