The Netherlands escaped with a point from their Nations League trip to Greece on Thursday night, but the display left the Dutch press with plenty to pick apart.
Xavi’s side found themselves two goals down at half time inside the PAOK stadium in Thessaloniki after Fotis Ioannidis and Giorgos Masouras struck for the hosts.
Three changes at the interval swung the momentum, and Oranje fought back to draw two apiece, with Tijjani Reijnders grabbing the equaliser in the closing stages.
Two Liverpool players featured in the contest, and both drew telling assessments from the Dutch outlets.
Virgil van Dijk, winning his 99th cap, captained the side and sparked the comeback by heading home from a Joey Veerman corner.
Ryan Gravenberch began on the bench before replacing Quinten Timber at the break, and his introduction coincided with a far more controlled Dutch performance.
So how did the Dutch media rate the Liverpool pair?
VoetbalPrimeur handed Van Dijk a 5.5 out of 10.
The outlet said, “In his 99th international match, Van Dijk failed to do everything possible to prevent the opening goal.”
“In any case, defensive organization was nowhere to be found before half-time, which can also be held against him as captain.”
“He did, however, head in the 2-1 strongly.”
Gravenberch fared slightly better with VoetbalPrimeur, earning a 6.
The outlet acknowledged the midfielder is still searching for his best form this season saying, “He is searching for his form this season, but replacement Quinten Timber made matters even worse. Gravenberch provided more stability.”
AD were kinder to both men.
Reporter Mikos Gouka gave Van Dijk a 6, praising the fine header that put the Netherlands back on course for a result. Gouka still pointed to the captain’s first half, highlighting his failure to intervene for the opening goal, while stressing that the whole defence looked poor before the break and much improved after it.
Gravenberch received a 6.5 from AD, the third highest mark in the squad behind substitutes Noa Lang (7.5) and Reijnders (7). Gouka observed that Oranje’s play improved once the Liverpool man entered the fray, with Gravenberch leaving “a very decent impression” and seeing one shooting opportunity blocked.
The reporter added that a performance like this could prove valuable in a season where things have not always run smoothly for him.
Across both outlets, the verdict on the Liverpool pair was broadly similar.
Van Dijk’s leadership and aerial threat remain vital, yet the first half exposed defensive frailties that the captain could not fix on his own.
Gravenberch, meanwhile, offered the kind of composure that suggests his form may be returning at the right time.
For Liverpool, that second point carries real weight.
The midfielder’s steady showing will encourage Andoni Iraola as the squad prepares for a demanding run of 10 matches in 28 days once club football resumes.
Van Dijk now stands one appearance away from 100 caps for his country, a milestone that will add a special edge to his next outing in orange.
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