The Netherlands face a key Nations League match against Greece in Amsterdam on Friday. A victory would almost certainly secure a top-two finish in their group and a place in the tournament's Final 8, where a €10 million prize and a potential backdoor route to Euro 2028 qualification are up for grabs.
The Dutch side is currently level on points with Greece at the top of League A Group 2. The top two teams from each group qualify for the quarter-finals in late March. A win would guarantee a first or second-place finish, avoiding a potential tiebreaker scenario if the Netherlands, Greece, and Germany all finish on 11 points. The Dutch football association views the Nations League as important for silverware, prize money, and an additional qualification chance.
The Nations League winner receives a €10 million prize. Also, the best-performing nations in the competition that fail to qualify directly for Euro 2028 will enter a play-off for one extra spot. The Netherlands hosted the Final 4 in 2023 but did not bid to host the 2027 edition. Spain is the leading candidate to stage that tournament at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium.
Head coach Xavi stressed the importance of the upcoming fixtures. "We must approach the match against the Greeks, and the one on Monday against Germany, seriously," he said. A loss could put the team in danger, as the nation finishing bottom of the group is relegated to League B. Germany currently sits in third and also faces that threat.
Following the clash with Greece, the Netherlands travel to face Germany on Monday.
Further reading: NOS Sport
