An injury-hit Netherlands side battled back to draw 2-2 against Greece in the Nations League.

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Xavi was forced into changes with Cody Gakpo and Jan Paul van Hecke dropping out of the squad. Tijjani Reijnders and Ryan Gravenberch also dropped to the bench with Quinten Timber, Guus Til, Jurrien Timber and Ruben van Bommel starting.

Greece have been in good form recently and their confidence was clear from the start. They had a goal disallowed for offside before Fotis Ioannidis made it 1-0 after 23 minutes.

The Netherlands offered little going forward and in stoppage time, a bad back pass from Van Bommel led to Giorgos Masouras sliding in a second.

Xavi made a triple change as Gravenberch, Noa Lang and Reijnders came on and they all made a big difference as the Netherlands dominated the second half.

Virgil van Dijk headed one back before Denzel Dumfries had two goals disallowed for offside. Xavi turned to Joshua Zirkzee and debutante Gjivai Zechiel in hope of an equaliser.

The equaliser came in the last minute as Zechiel’s overhead kick dropped into the path of Reijnders who blasted the ball in. Zechiel then came close to a winner but his header was straight at the goalkeeper.

A battling point for the Netherlands, who stay unbeaten under Xavi with a game at home to Serbia to come on Sunday.




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