Netherlands thrash Greece 7-0 and close in on Nations League quarter-finals

The Netherlands moved to the brink of the Nations League quarter-finals with a 7-0 win over Greece in Amsterdam on Friday, leaving them top of their group with one match to play.

Oranje have 11 points, three ahead of Germany and Greece. If the Netherlands lose to Germany on Monday and Greece beat Serbia, all three teams would finish level on points. Even then, the Dutch are all but certain to progress on the group’s head-to-head goal difference: they have a seven-goal advantage, while Greece are six goals down. The report says the Netherlands would need to lose 13-0 in Berlin for qualification to be at risk. A draw or win against Germany would secure first place.

Tijjani Reijnders scored three times in a 22-minute spell in the first half, after Crysencio Summerville opened the scoring in the sixth minute. Jurriën Timber made it 5-0 shortly before half-time, then scored again after the break. Donyell Malen completed the rout in the 62nd minute.

Frenkie de Jong returned as captain after a knee injury sustained at the World Cup, but was substituted at half-time. Virgil van Dijk and Brian Brobbey missed the match through injury.