Wim Kieft has questioned Xavi Hernandez’s decision to start Guus Til and Quinten Timber in midfield during the Netherlands’ 2-2 draw with Greece, arguing that the Dutch head coach should have prepared more thoroughly before making his selection.

The Netherlands ended the international break with two wins and two draws. Oranje defeated Serbia 2-1 both away and at home, while they drew with Germany and Greece.

Against Greece, Xavi handed PSV midfielder Til a starting role alongside former PSV teammate Joey Veerman and Timber. However, the decision did not produce the desired result, as the Netherlands found themselves 2-0 down at half-time.

Xavi responded by making two changes at the interval, replacing both Til and Timber with Tijjani Reijnders and Ryan Gravenberch. The Netherlands eventually recovered to earn a 2-2 draw.

Kieft, the former PSV player and current analyst, struggled to understand why Xavi opted for Til and Timber in the first place.

“It is what it is. They are not suddenly better players that Xavi now has,” Kieft said on the KieftJansenEgmondGijp podcast.

The analyst then turned his attention directly towards the Netherlands head coach and suggested that Xavi’s team selection raised questions about his preparation for the match.

“If Xavi now thinks: I can start with Til and Timber, then we also have to put a small question mark next to Xavi,” Kieft said.

For Kieft, the issue was not that Til and Timber had suddenly become different players, but that Xavi should have had a clearer understanding of what they could offer before selecting them for such an important midfield role.

“He could have prepared a bit too. Watch a few videos, that’s not how it works,” Kieft added, as quoted by PSV Inside.

Til’s involvement against Greece was therefore limited to the opening 45 minutes. With the Netherlands two goals behind, Xavi made the decision to alter his midfield at the break, bringing on Reijnders and Gravenberch alongside the other tactical changes.

The substitutions helped Oranje regain control and eventually produce a response, although they could not complete the comeback and had to settle for a draw.

Kieft’s criticism places the spotlight not only on Til and Timber’s performance but also on the decision-making of Xavi during his early period in charge of the Netherlands. The international break produced two victories and two draws, but the midfield selection against Greece has left the head coach facing questions from the former PSV striker.