HOLLAND — Holland coach Xavi Hernandez took responsibility for his team’s sluggish start in Thursday’s Nations League match against Greece, which saw the visitors trailing 2-0 at halftime before rallying to secure a 2-2 draw at Stadio Toumbas in Thessaloniki.

The Greek side took control early, with Fotis Ioannidis and Georgios Masouras scoring before the break. Holland’s response came after the interval, as Virgil van Dijk netted a goal just before the hour mark. Near the end of the match, Tijjani Reijnders scored the equalizer in the 89th minute, preserving Holland’s unbeaten record under the leadership of Xavi, who is in the early stages of his tenure with the Dutch national team.

Reflecting on the game, Xavi acknowledged that the first half fell short of expectations and attributed the underwhelming performance to his own decisions. “The first half was very poor. That was my fault as a coach,” he stated, suggesting that “making too many changes” may have led to confusion among the players.

At halftime, Xavi made three substitutions, introducing Ryan Gravenberch, Noa Lang, and Reijnders, which he said significantly influenced the game. He emphasized that he communicated openly with the team during the break, apologizing for the team’s initial play and urging a fresh approach for the second half.

“The system was different,” Xavi explained regarding the tactical adjustments. “We played with a diamond in midfield, and that created more chances. The pitch became more open, and we had more speed with the ball.”

Holland dominated possession and chances in the second half but could not clinch the full three points, a result that nonetheless extended Xavi’s unbeaten record as coach. The Nations League fixture underscored the challenges of integrating new strategies and personnel but demonstrated the Dutch side’s resilience and adaptability under pressure.