AMSTERDAM (The Thursday Times) — Tijjani Reijnders scored a first-half hat-trick as the Netherlands thrashed Greece 7-0 in the Nations League on Friday, matching the biggest win in the competition’s history and setting up a group decider with Germany in Berlin on Monday.
Crysencio Summerville put the hosts ahead inside six minutes at the Johan Cruijff Arena before Reijnders struck three times and Jurriën Timber added a fifth goal before half-time. Timber scored again just before the hour, and Donyell Malen completed the rout.
The result put the Netherlands three points clear at the top of Group A2. Greece and Germany are level in second place on eight points, according to UEFA.
Germany win in Belgrade
Germany beat Serbia 3-1 in heavy rain in an almost empty stadium in Belgrade. Srdan Babic deflected Kai Havertz’s third-minute header into his own net, Florian Wirtz bundled in a second goal, and the debutant Brajan Gruda scored a solo goal after the break.
Babic pulled one back for Serbia, who finished with nine men after the substitutes Vanja Dragojevic and Andrija Zivkovic were sent off late in the match. Serbia remain without a point.
“We played a truly fantastic game. I think we need to get a bit more used to the fact that we’re genuinely good – and capable of being very, very good,” Germany’s coach, Jürgen Klopp, said after the match. “We wanted to qualify for that ‘final’ in Berlin, and now we have.”
Germany have won twice, drawn twice, and lost once in five matches under Klopp. After the Dutch win, they will probably need to beat the Netherlands on Monday to reach the quarter-finals, unless Serbia beat Greece away from home.
Elsewhere
Scotland beat North Macedonia 2-1 and Switzerland drew 0-0 with Slovenia in League B, while Iceland won 5-0 in Bulgaria.
On Thursday, Harry Kane marked a record 126th England cap with the winner against Croatia, Italy beat France 3-1 in Milan, and Belgium beat Türkiye. Portugal host Denmark and Norway welcome Wales on Saturday.
