The Netherlands continued their impressive unbeaten start under Xavi Hernández with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Serbia at the Philips Stadion on Sunday, October 4, 2026.
The result gave the Dutch three important points and moved them to the top of UEFA Nations League Group A2 on eight points after four matches. Xavi’s side have now recorded two victories and two draws since the start of the campaign, while Serbia remain without a point.
The night also carried special significance for Virgil van Dijk, who made his 100th appearance for the Netherlands as captain.
The hosts started brightly and immediately looked determined to control the game. Tijjani Reijnders threatened inside the opening minute, while Crysencio Summerville and Mexx Meerdink also created early problems for the Serbian defence.
The breakthrough eventually arrived in the 31st minute, and it came from an unusual source.
Teun Koopmeiners stepped up to take a free-kick from the right side. Instead of looking for a teammate, he delivered a dangerous, curling ball across the crowded penalty area. The delivery evaded everyone, including Serbia goalkeeper Vanja Milinković-Savić, and continued into the far corner of the net.
It was an audacious effort from Koopmeiners and gave the Netherlands a 1-0 advantage.
Serbia, however, responded almost immediately.
Four minutes after the Dutch opener, Aleksa Terzić delivered a dangerous cross into the penalty area. Mihajlo Cvetković attacked the ball aggressively and rose above the Dutch defence before directing a header beyond Bart Verbruggen in the 35th minute.
The 19-year-old’s finish restored parity at 1-1 and gave Serbia renewed confidence.
The visitors nearly turned the match around before the interval when Strahinja Pavlović found space behind the Dutch defence, but his attempt drifted wide. The Netherlands survived the scare and went into half-time level.
Xavi made a decisive change during the interval, introducing Joshua Zirkzee for Meerdink.
The substitution would eventually prove to be the difference.
The Netherlands regained control after the restart and continued probing the Serbian defence. Their pressure finally paid off in the 72nd minute.
Denzel Dumfries drove forward and supplied a low ball across the penalty area. Reijnders reached it and cleverly redirected the delivery towards the far post, where Zirkzee had found space. The substitute reacted quickly to finish from close range and put the Netherlands 2-1 ahead.
The goal was Zirkzee’s second for the national team and underlined the impact of Xavi’s half-time decision.
Serbia refused to surrender. The visitors continued searching for another equaliser and created several dangerous moments as the game entered its final stages.
Cvetković came close after getting past Koopmeiners, but his effort failed to find the target. Serbia continued throwing bodies forward, forcing the Netherlands to defend deeper than they would have preferred.
The biggest scare came in the 92nd minute.
Nemanja Gudelj unleashed a powerful long-range effort that appeared destined for the top corner, but Verbruggen produced an outstanding reaction save to tip the ball over the crossbar. It was arguably the most important save of the night and preserved the Netherlands’ narrow advantage.
Serbia continued attacking during five minutes of added time. Goalkeeper Milinković-Savić even ventured forward for a late corner, but the visitors could not find the second equaliser.
The Netherlands also had to deal with an unusual late problem. Micky van de Ven suffered a hand injury after the Dutch side had already used all their substitutions. He therefore remained on the pitch despite being unable to contribute normally, leaving the Netherlands effectively playing with 10 men during the closing stages.
There were also several disciplinary moments as the physical contest produced a number of yellow cards, particularly during Serbia’s attempts to disrupt the Dutch midfield and regain possession.
The final whistle confirmed another important victory for Xavi, who has now guided the Netherlands through an unbeaten opening international window.
The Dutch finished with greater control of possession and created enough chances to justify the victory, although Serbia showed enough attacking threat to make the closing stages uncomfortable.
The result also moved the Netherlands above Greece on goal difference after Greece and Germany played out a goalless draw in the other Group A2 fixture.
For Xavi, the victory was another encouraging sign that his ideas are beginning to take shape. His decision to introduce Zirkzee at half-time paid off, while Koopmeiners’ unusual role and spectacular free-kick provided another talking point.
For Serbia, it was another painful defeat despite a competitive performance.
The final score in Eindhoven: Netherlands 2-1 Serbia.
Goals: Teun Koopmeiners 31′; Mihajlo Cvetković 35′ (assist: Aleksa Terzić); Joshua Zirkzee 72′ (assist: Tijjani Reijnders, following Denzel Dumfries’ low cross).
