AMSTERDAM (Netherlands) — Tijjani Reijnders scored a first-half hat-trick as the Netherlands thrashed Greece 7-0 to all but secure a place in the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals.
Crysencio Summerville capitalised on a defensive lapse to give the Dutch an early lead in Amsterdam, before former Manchester City midfielder Reijnders doubled the advantage.
Reijnders struck again from close range before completing his hat-trick in the 33rd minute when he squeezed home at the far post.
Jurrien Timber turned in a Donyell Malen cross before half-time to make it 5-0, and the Arsenal defender added his second goal of the night on the hour mark.
Malen completed the rout with a crisp first-time finish against a Greece side that bore little resemblance to the team that nearly beat the Netherlands last month.
“The first half was amazing, so I have to congratulate the players. But it’s just one game. We need to continue like this, but this is the way,” Netherlands coach Xavi Hernandez told UEFA.
Greece had entered the match unbeaten in Group A2, having taken four points against Germany, and had held a two-goal lead against the Netherlands in October before Reijnders salvaged a 2-2 draw.
“There’s not much to say about today,” said Greece winger Christos Tzolis according to AFP.
“We had a very bad start; we conceded every chance the opponent had. I think the first half was the worst performance of the national team.”
The Dutch lead the group with 11 points, three clear of both Greece and Germany, going into the final round of matches. The margin of Friday’s win effectively means the Netherlands will advance to the quarter-finals.
Germany host the Netherlands in Berlin on Monday while Greece are at home to Serbia, who are without a point after five games. Serbia finished with nine men as they lost 3-1 to Germany in Belgrade.
