Netherlands thrash Greece 7-0 in Amsterdam, Greece's widest post-war defeat

A collapse before half-time

Greece lost 7-0 to the Netherlands at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam on Friday, 13 November, in matchday five of the Nations League League A group. The Dutch were already 5-0 up at half-time and added two more goals after the break. It is the widest margin in Greece's post-war history, ahead of 7-1 defeats to France in 1958 and Denmark in 1989. The biggest defeat in the national team's history remains an 11-1 loss to Hungary in 1938. The collapse came after Greece had put in impressive displays across the first four matchdays of the group.

Goals and key moments

Summerville opened the scoring in the 6th minute after Mavropanos misplaced a pass to Hakpo, then sent the ball into the Dutch forward's path while trying to clear it. Reijnders, a 28-year-old midfielder, doubled the lead in the 12th minute and made it 3-0 in the 18th after Timber's cross and a touch from Malen. Fotis Ioannidis thought he had pulled a goal back in the 24th minute, but referee Sagi disallowed it after a VAR review for handball. Reijnders completed his hat-trick in the 33rd minute, and Timber scored in the 40th for 5-0 at the break.

Timber scored again in the 59th minute, and Malen closed the scoring in the 62nd with a strike from outside the area, making it 7-0. Greece were unable to respond at any stage of the match.

Team news and the stands

Dimitris Kourbelis, named in the starting lineup, felt discomfort during the warm-up and was ruled out at the last minute. Triantis came in to partner Androutsos in midfield. Ivan Jovanović set his side up in a 4-4-2 with Tzolakis in goal, Mavropanos and Retsos in central defence, and Rota and Tsimikas at full-back. Xavi's Netherlands lined up in a 4-4-3 with Malen as the central striker. Around 5,000 Greek supporters stayed in the stands and sang the national anthem until the final minutes.

What Greece needs on Monday

Greece host Serbia at the Panthessaliko in Thessaloniki on Monday, 16 November, at 21:45, in the final group matchday. Greece are level on points with Germany in second place but hold the head-to-head advantage. Earlier in the group, Greece won 2-1 in Serbia on 24 September and 1-0 in Germany on 27 September, then drew 2-2 with the Netherlands on 1 October and 0-0 with Germany on 4 October. A win over Serbia would take Greece to 11 points. A German win over the Netherlands on the same day would leave Greece out of the quarter-finals whatever happens in Thessaloniki.