Xavi admits mistake after Netherlands fight back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Greece

Xavi accepts blame for first-half collapse

The Netherlands drew 2-2 with Greece on Thursday, but had to come from 2-0 down to rescue a point at Stadio Toumbas. Xavi conceded a "very bad" first half from the Netherlands was down to mistakes he made in his preparation for the Nations League clash.

Goals from Virgil van Dijk and Tijjani Reijnders saw the Oranje battle back to rescue a point and maintain their unbeaten start under Xavi. The Barcelona great admitted he got things wrong in the opening 45 minutes.

"The first half was very bad. That was my mistake, as a coach," Xavi told NOS. "There was no intensity, rhythm, and not even ambition. We talked about that. It was important to create chances from the start. But that didn't work at all in the first half. It is my fault how I organised the team in the first half."

Too many changes?

Xavi made four changes compared to the team that started against Serbia in the Netherlands' previous Nations League outing. Asked if that was too many alterations, he said:

"Maybe. That's why I say it's my fault. I'm happy with the second half."

Reijnders, Ryan Gravenberch and Noa Lang were all introduced at half-time, and the Netherlands swiftly got on the front foot. The Netherlands had 14 shots after the break, allowing just one going the other way, and created chances worth 0.71 expected goals.

"The second half, that is how we want to play," Xavi added.

Van Dijk backs assessment

Van Dijk echoed Xavi's thoughts on the performance.

"In the second half, we showed how we want to play, how we want to defend, and that we can turn things around. But we also have to be realistic. The first half was obviously just bad. Why is that? I think you mainly have to look within yourself. The basics: winning duels, being firmer on the ball, making the right choices. Instead of looking through the middle, playing around it, as we agreed. Only, that didn't happen. Unfortunately, that happens sometimes in football too. Then it's about how you react. How we played in the second half; that is a pretty good reaction, I think."