Sports
Netherlands salvage 2-2 draw at Greece after Xavi apologizes at halftime
October 2, 2026 at 10:30 AM
Coverage
2 reports · 1 in Arabic, 1 in English · over 11 hours
Xavi Hernandez has taken full responsibility for a poor first half, after Netherlands fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Greece in Thessaloniki.
- Netherlands trailed 2-0 at halftime before Virgil van Dijk headed one back and Tijjani Reijnders equalized in the 89th minute.
- Xavi said he apologized to his players at halftime, calling the first half "terribly bad" and taking blame for his lineup choices.
- The coach made a triple substitution at the break, bringing on Reijnders, Ryan Gravenberch and Noa Lang.
- Arsenal winger Christos Tzolis was substituted with an apparent injury in the 18th minute.