Netherlands under pressure: Greek golden generation full of confidence
Editor Karel Osthoff of 4 min reports that the Dutch will face the Nations League duel on Thursday evening against a confident Greek side. After victories over Serbia (1‑2) and Germany (0‑1) belief in the Greek team is fully restored, says Greek football analyst Stavros Liosis.
Greek surge after double victories
Greece started the Nations League with a 1‑2 win over Serbia, followed by a surprising 0‑1 victory over Germany, which fully restored confidence in the side. “The team is in excellent form,” says Liosis. The win over Germany was historic, because the Greeks had never before beaten Die Mannschaft, and Liosis emphasizes that these two victories have reignited belief in the side after last year’s dramatic qualifying campaign.
National team coach Ivan Jovanović, a Serbian‑Greek manager who has been in charge since 2024, receives praise for his clear preference for attacking football. He has given confidence to young talents such as Konstantinos Karetsas, Charalampos Kostoulas and Christos Mouzakitis, and Liosis explains that Jovanović already knew Greek football very well, making the partnership seen as a good match. Jürgen Klopp called the current squad the ‘golden generation’ of Greek football, a remark that, according to Liosis, highlights the talented players of a good age.
Tzolis as key player, Gakpo absent
According to Liosis, the Dutch should especially watch Christos Tzolis, the Arsenal winger who already scored a decisive goal against Serbia. “He has been brilliant this season. From the flank he can create danger by cutting inside and either shooting himself or serving a teammate,” Liosis explains, emphasizing Tzolis’s versatility. The absence of Cody Gakpo, who was injured against Serbia, is considered a ‘relief’ by the Greek analyst, because his injury further weakens the Dutch attack.
The atmosphere in Thessaloniki is frantic; the matches against the Netherlands and Germany at the Toumba Stadium were sold out within a few hours, leaving more than 100 000 supporters, according to the Greek football federation, in a digital queue for a ticket. “The atmosphere will be wild,” predicts Liosis, adding that Thessaloniki has never before experienced a sold‑out match of the Greek national team, underscoring the growing popularity of the side. Despite the huge enthusiasm, Liosis remains convinced that the Dutch are still the stronger team, but he believes Greece can make it difficult for the Netherlands and take something away from the match.
Objectives and match details
After the first six points, Greece has revised its objective: instead of aiming for third place, they now target the Nations League quarter‑finals. “The goal was third place. But after these six points the goal is absolutely to reach the quarter‑finals,” says Liosis, adding that a draw against the Dutch would, in his view, not be a bad result. He expects the Greeks to withdraw a bit more against the Netherlands and wait for opportunities in the transition, making individual errors crucial.
The match kicks off at 20:45 on Thursday evening, and the winner will top Group A2 of the Nations League, putting extra pressure on both teams to perform. The last meeting between the two nations took place in 2023, when the Netherlands won 0‑1 during the Euro qualifying, a result that Dutch fans still recall sharply. With the current form of both sides and the high expectations of Greek supporters, this duel promises to be a crucial step in the continued campaign in the Nations League.