West Ham defender Konstantinos Mavropanos has received backing in Greece after criticism of his part in Virgil van Dijk’s goal against the Netherlands.
The Dutch captain headed home in the 59th minute as Greece surrendered a two-goal lead in Thursday’s 2-2 Nations League draw. Tijjani Reijnders equalised late on.
Mavropanos failed to clear before Van Dijk scored, but Greek outlet Sportime argued that judging his performance on that incident alone overlooked his wider contribution.
“When the national team came under pressure, Mavropanos was constantly there,” the outlet wrote, translated from Greek.
Mavropanos vs Netherlands: 10 clearances and five blocks
Sportime credited the centre-back with 17 defensive actions, including 10 clearances and five blocks, alongside 96 per cent passing accuracy.
The outlet also recorded 17 defensive actions in Greece’s 1-0 victory over Germany, taking his total across the two matches to 34.
Those numbers illustrate his workload during a demanding international window. Greece had only 29 per cent possession against the Netherlands, according to FotMob, leaving their defence facing sustained pressure.
For West Ham, the assessment offers a fuller picture of an established starter’s evening. His missed clearance mattered, but so did his repeated interventions elsewhere.
The Hammers next host QPR on Friday 9 October. Our West Ham team-news guide covers the latest injury and suspension picture before the London Stadium fixture.
