Meerdink hopes his son Mexx will score at the Toumba Stadium

The Netherlands face Greece on Thursday evening at the Toumba Stadium in Thessaloniki, a first for the Oranje in the country's fourth stadium. While the Greek federation chooses a capacity of less than thirty thousand, nine Eredivisie clubs have already played nine times in this stadium.

Eredivisie clubs at the Toumba Stadium

Ajax and PSV have each faced PAOK Saloniki three times, AZ twice and SC Heerenveen once. The Dutch clubs achieved mixed results; Ajax and AZ even secured victories in Greece, while Heerenveen managed to pick up points. These encounters demonstrate the long-standing link between the Eredivisie and the Greek stadium.

PSV suffered two defeats in Thessaloniki, first in 2001 and later in 2020. A lineup featuring Donyell Malen, Eran Zahavi, Mario Götze, Mohamed Ihattaren and Ibrahim Sangaré unexpectedly lost 4‑1, and from that PSV squad only Mauro Júnior still plays in Eindhoven. PSV remains the only Dutch opponent to have lost at the Toumba Stadium.

In the 2004 UEFA Cup match against AZ, it was Martijn Meerdink who gave the Alkmaarders a hard‑fought 2‑3 victory. Now he hopes that his son Mexx can find the same spot and score a goal at the Toumba Stadium.

How to watch the Nations League duel between the Oranje and Greece

Outlook for the Oranje and the Nations League

The match attracts few spectators; the stadium holds fewer than thirty thousand people, while Greek media report a waiting list of one hundred thousand for the upcoming internationals. The Greek federation deliberately chose the relatively small stadium to bring international football back to the Thessaloniki region, although the timing is not ideal as Greece has recently been hot in the Nations League.

After a disappointing World Cup performance, the Oranje faces the next challenge: the 2026/27 Nations League, in which it will play in the group stage against Germany, Serbia and Greece. The clash at the Toumba Stadium is an early sign of the upcoming European battle.

Netherlands meet Greece at infamous Toumba Stadium, players vomited

For more details about the international tournament, you can consult the dedicated Nations League page, where the match schedule, group standings and extensive explanations are available. On VI PRO you will also find the best stories about the Dutch national team; a subscription ensures you miss nothing from the Oranje.