The Dutch national team starts the away match against Greece in the European Championship qualification on Monday evening with good statistics.
The Dutch won eight of the ten previous meetings with the 2004 European champion. Greece defeated the Netherlands only once. On September 1, 2016, a friendly international match in the Philips stadium ended in a 1-2 draw.
Greece failed to score in eight of the ten matches against the Dutch team. Both teams met in the Philips stadium last month. The Netherlands triumphed 3-0. Marten de Roon, Cody Gakpo and Wout Weghorst scored during the first half in the Philips stadium. The Netherlands is number 7 in the FIFA world rankings. Greece is 51st.
Qualification for the European Championship
The Dutch team is competing with the Greeks for second place in the group, which entitles them to direct qualification for next year’s European Championships in Germany. National coach Ronald Koeman’s team must at least draw in Athens to keep the chance of direct qualification in their own hands. In that case, the Dutch team can complete the job against Ireland and Gibraltar next month.
The Netherlands loses control in the battle for second place if it loses in the OPAP Arena. Greece will then need a draw against the already placed French on November 21 to secure second position in the group. If that happens, the Dutch team will have a last opportunity to qualify for the European final round in the play-offs next March.