Xavi accepts responsibility after Netherlands recover from two-goal Greece deficit

Netherlands coach Xavi Hernandez said he was responsible for his side’s poor first-half performance after they came from two goals behind to draw 2-2 with Greece in the Nations League.

The Dutch were outplayed before the interval and fell behind to goals from Fotis Ioannidis and Georgios Masouras.

Virgil van Dijk reduced the deficit shortly before the hour mark, before Tijjani Reijnders completed the comeback by scoring an equaliser in the final minute.

The result extended Xavi’s unbeaten record since taking charge of the Netherlands, but the former Barcelona manager admitted his initial tactical approach had been wrong.

“I’m never happy with a draw. But the first half was very poor. That was my fault as a coach,” Xavi said.

“Maybe I made things unclear for the players by making too many changes.”

Xavi responded at half-time by making three substitutions. Ryan Gravenberch, Noa Lang and Reijnders were introduced as the Netherlands sought to change the course of the match.

The team also moved to a midfield diamond, a switch which gave them greater control and increased their attacking tempo.

“I told the players exactly the same thing: sorry, because I think this is my fault,” Xavi added.

“Forget the first half, now we’re going to restructure things in the second.”

The change had an immediate effect. The Netherlands took control after the break and created a succession of opportunities as Greece came under sustained pressure.

“I think above all that the system was different. We played with a diamond in midfield, and that created more chances,” said Xavi.

“The pitch became more open, and we had more speed with the ball.”

Despite salvaging a point, the draw will be viewed as a missed opportunity for the Netherlands after their ineffective opening 45 minutes. Greece had looked set to secure the victory after establishing a two-goal advantage, only for the Dutch response to deny them in the closing stages.

The Netherlands will finish their international window against Serbia in Eindhoven on Sunday.