- Netherlands earned a 2-1 victory over Serbia in Belgrade, their first win under Xavi Hernández
- Mexx Meerdink scored both goals against Serbia in his first start for the national team after debuting as a substitute against Germany
- Netherlands will play their next match in Thessaloniki against Greece before hosting Serbia in Eindhoven
First Win Under Hernández Comes With Clear Attacking Demands
Netherlands coach Xavi Hernández was encouraged by the opening week of work with his squad after the 2-1 win over Serbia in Belgrade, Serbia, but made it clear that the team’s attacking play still requires improvement. The result marked the Dutch team’s first victory under the Spanish specialist.
The win followed a draw with Germany in Amsterdam, where the Netherlands equalised late in the game. Hernández’s assessment of the Serbia match focused not only on the result, but also on areas where the team fell short, particularly during a first half in which he felt the Dutch side did not apply enough pressure to their opponents.
“It is always most important to get the three points, I’m happy that we managed to do that. But we do need to play better, because, especially in the first half, we did not press well,” Xavi said.
“Nevertheless, I’m very satisfied after a week of work.”
‘Meer controle, beter drukzetten en slimmer de ruimtes aanvallen' 👀
Xavi ziet duidelijke verbeterpunten, maar is vooral tevreden over hoe het team vandaag speelde 🤝
Gaat Oranje de goede kant op? 🧡#Oranje #Xavi pic.twitter.com/JjkEVgQlDC— VoetbalPrimeur (@VoetbalPrimeur) September 27, 2026
Meerdink Makes Immediate Impact
Hernández singled out AZ Alkmaar forward Mexx Meerdink for praise after the striker delivered a decisive performance in Belgrade. Meerdink had made his Netherlands debut as a substitute against Germany, before being handed his first start against Serbia and scoring both goals in the 2-1 victory.
The coach emphasised that Meerdink has quickly adapted to the team’s demands. His contribution was not limited to finishing chances, with Hernández also valuing the forward’s work across the pitch.
Attacking Structure Remains The Main Focus
While Hernández was positive about the number of opportunities created and the players’ understanding of the team’s structure, he stressed that the Netherlands must become more efficient in how they use attacking space. He wants the side to stretch the pitch better and circulate possession at greater speed.
“For example, there were many moments when we needed to attack the spaces, but we didn’t do it. That is something we need to improve. But also things such as making the pitch wider and moving the ball around more quickly,” he said.
“But the most important thing is that we are creating a lot of chances. The players feel comfortable on the pitch with the structure we are playing in, so a lot of things are also going well.”
Next Tests For The Netherlands
The Netherlands will next travel to Thessaloniki to face Greece. After that, they will host Serbia in Eindhoven, giving Hernández further opportunities to refine the attacking details he highlighted after the Belgrade win.
