The Netherlands looked to be heading for a painful defeat in Thessaloniki, only for a dramatic second-half comeback to earn the Oranje a 2-2 draw against Greece in the Nations League.

Having already shocked Serbia and Germany, Greece produced another electrifying first half. The hosts attacked with intensity and repeatedly exposed the Dutch defence, with Fotis Ioannidis and Giorgos Masouras finding the net to give Greece a commanding two-goal lead.

With his side struggling to impose itself, Xavi responded at half-time with a bold triple substitution. Ryan Gravenberch, Tijjani Reijnders and Noa Lang were introduced — and the momentum of the match changed almost immediately.

Virgil van Dijk gave the Netherlands a lifeline when he headed home from a corner, setting up a frantic final period. Denzel Dumfries appeared to have completed the comeback with a brace, but both goals were ruled out for offside.

Yet the Netherlands refused to give up. With the clock approaching the 90th minute, Tijjani Reijnders finally found the breakthrough, rescuing a point for the visitors and denying Greece what would have been another memorable Nations League victory.

UEFA Nations League 2026-27

Greece - Netherlands 2:2 (2:0)
Goals: Ioannidis F., 23 (1:0); Masouras G., 45 (2:0); van Dijk, 59 (2:1); Reijnders, 89 (2:2)

Greece: Tzolakis; Mavropanos; Retsos; Saliakas; Tsimikas; Kourbelis; Pavlidis E. (Zafeiris, 71); Androutsos (Douvikas, 83); Tzolis (Masouras G., 18); Karetsas (Michailidis, 83); Ioannidis F. (Tetteh, 71)
Substitution: Masouras G. (from 18); Zafeiris (from 71); Tetteh (from 71); Michailidis (from 83); Douvikas (from 83)
Bench: Vlachodimos; Mandas; Tsapras; Koulierakis; Kyriakopoulos; Mouzakitis; Kostoulas
Yellow Cards: Tzolakis 67; Saliakas 76

Netherlands: Verbruggen; van Dijk; Timber J. (Zechiël, 78); van de Ven; Dumfries; Til G. (Reijnders, 46); Veerman J.; Summerville; van Bommel R. (Lang N., 46); Timber Q. (Gravenberch R., 46); Meerdink (Zirkzee, 70)
Substitution: Gravenberch R. (from 46); Reijnders (from 46); Lang N. (from 46); Zirkzee (from 70); Zechiël (from 78)
Bench: Roefs; Flekken; Frimpong J.; Hato; Ake; Koopmeiners T.; Taylor Ke.
Yellow Cards: Lang N. 76