Debutant Mexx Meerdink scores twice as Netherlands take on Serbia in Nations League
Making his first start for the Dutch national team, striker Mexx Meerdink scored twice in Belgrade during a UEFA Nations League match against Serbia, while Cody Gakpo was forced off injured.
Meerdink's debut brace
The Netherlands faced Serbia on Saturday in a UEFA Nations League match at Belgrade's Rajko Mitić stadium. The game turned into a special occasion for 21-year-old striker Mexx Meerdink, who earned his first starting spot for Oranje after a successful substitute appearance against Germany and an injury to fellow striker Brian Brobbey. Meerdink justified the trust shown in him, converting a penalty in the 30th minute after referee Marciniak awarded the spot kick for a foul by Terzic on Crysencio Summerville. That goal put the Dutch 1-0 up at halftime.
The start of the match was not easy for the Netherlands — as early as the 17th minute, left winger Cody Gakpo suffered an injury after a hard tackle from Saša Lukić and had to be replaced by Ruben van Bommel.
Right at the start of the second half, in the 46th minute, Luka Jović equalized for Serbia — the goal was checked by VAR for a possible offside but was ultimately allowed to stand. Several other good chances went unused by Dutch players, but in the 69th minute Meerdink restored the Netherlands' lead, receiving a pass from Guus Til and finishing into the far corner. Three minutes of stoppage time were added at the end, and the Netherlands continued to lead, though the available sources do not confirm the final, official result of the match.
Context: a new coach and a historic stadium
The match was overseen by new head coach Xavi Hernández, who has introduced a habit common in Spain: he only tells players whether they will start about two hours before kickoff, rather than days in advance as his predecessor Louis van Gaal used to do. Xavi explains that this approach helps players' focus. Defender Micky van de Ven admitted he personally would prefer to know the lineup earlier, but said the squad would have to get used to it.
As noted by NOS, the Belgrade stadium is a historic venue — it was here, 50 years ago, that Antonín Panenka scored his legendary penalty in the 1976 European Championship final. Interest in Saturday's match in Serbia was reportedly low — of roughly 50,000 seats, fewer than 10,000 tickets were sold, including 700 for Dutch supporters, with the remaining tickets given away to schools to help fill the stands.
