The Netherlands routed Greece 7-0 in a statement Nations League victory to stay unbeaten under new coach Xavi, while Jürgen Klopp’s Germany cruised to a 3-1 win over Serbia on Friday.
That now sets up a decider between the two big-name coaches for first place in their group.
Tijjani Reijnders scored a hat trick and Jurrien Timber had two goals in a rampant win for the Netherlands.
Beaming and holding up three fingers, Reijnders celebrated a hat trick which came off a series of slick team moves to tear apart the Greek defense in Amsterdam.
Crysencio Summerville got the Netherlands started with a sixth-minute opener before Reijnders scored three in the space of 21 minutes, Timber added two more and Donyell Malen a seventh.
Netherlands coach Xavi Hernandez watching his team against Greece. (Photo by Gabriel Calvino Alonso/BSR Agency/Getty Images)
Germany is three points behind Group A2 leader the Netherlands before they play on Monday in Berlin.
The top two in the group advance to the quarterfinals, with head-to-head record as the tiebreaker. The Netherlands, Germany and Greece are all able to qualify. Serbia is last after losing all of its five games.
Goals from Florian Wirtz and debutant Brajan Gruda lifted Germany to its second win in five games with Klopp as coach after a slow start to his tenure.
In driving rain, Germany was ahead after just three minutes when Serbia defender Srdjan Babic turned Germany forward Kai Havertz’s header into his own goal.
Jürgen Klopp looks on as Germany take on Serbia. (Photo by Christian Charisius/picture alliance via Getty Images)
