League A Group A2 leaders Greece host a Netherlands side yet to lose under Xavi at the Toumba Stadium on Thursday, with both nations knowing victory would represent a major statement in the race for the quarter-finals.

Match Preview

Few would have predicted Greece topping their group after two matchdays, but Ivan Jovanovic’s side have produced a genuinely eye-catching start to the Nations League, coming from behind to beat Serbia 2-1 before edging out Germany 1-0 on the road. 

It continues a broader pattern under Jovanovic of springing upsets on the continental stage — his side famously won at Wembley against England in the previous Nations League cycle — and Greece will fancy their chances of causing a similar shock against the Dutch on home soil. 

The Netherlands sit second in the group on four points, having opened Xavi’s tenure with a dramatic 1-1 draw against Germany, salvaged by Cody Gakpo’s stoppage-time equaliser, before following that up with a 2-1 win away in Belgrade against Serbia, sealed by a Mexx Meerdink double. 

The Dutch were arguably unfortunate not to beat Germany in the opener too, having racked up 3.18 expected goals to Germany’s 1.45 that night, and a victory in Thessaloniki would see Xavi’s side leapfrog Greece and move to the top of the group heading into the November window.

Team News

Greece have made minimal alterations through their opening two matches and Jovanovic looks set to stick with a similar group once again, with only Georgios Vagiannidis missing out through injury. 

Charalampos Kostoulas and Dimitrios Kourbelis, the matchwinner against Germany, are both expected to keep their places in an unchanged core that has thrived on discipline and defensive solidity, having conceded just once across the opening two matchdays.

The Netherlands have a couple of injury absences of their own to contend with. Cody Gakpo, so decisive in the opening-day draw with Germany, is unavailable, as is Brian Brobbey, who missed the win over Serbia. 

Xavi is expected to stick with his preferred 4-3-3 shape regardless, with Mexx Meerdink continuing to lead the line after his double in Belgrade and Ruben van Bommel expected to retain his place out wide, having provided the assist for Gakpo’s late leveller on matchday one.

Greece vs Netherlands Predicted XI

Greece Predicted XI:

Tzolakis; Mavropanos, Retsos, Tsimikas, Saliakas; Tzolis, Karetsas, Zafeiris, Androutsos, Kourbelis; Pavlidis

Netherlands Predicted XI:

Verbruggen; Dumfries, Van Hecke, Van Dijk, Van de Ven; Gravenberch, Veerman, Reijnders; Summerville, Meerdink, Van Bommel