Joshua Zirkzee’s decisive second-half tap-in ensured a 2-1 victory for the Netherlands, moving the team to the top of their UEFA Nations League group. The win was underscored by a milestone achievement for Virgil van Dijk, who marked his 100th international appearance for his country. The Manchester United forward, who entered the match at half-time, converted a Tijjani Reijnders pass to seal the result after Serbia had pushed hard to maintain parity.
This victory is vital for the Dutch squad as they look to distance themselves from a year defined by defensive inconsistencies. While head coach Xavi remains unbeaten through four matches, the team has navigated recent games seeking to shore up a backline that has struggled to prevent opposing goals throughout 2026. The result keeps the Netherlands in a commanding position in Group A2 with only two games remaining in the campaign.
According to the BBC and Flashscore, the scoring began just after the half-hour mark when Teun Koopmeiners whipped a free-kick into the bottom corner. Serbia responded four minutes later through Mihajlo Cvetkovic, who headed home his first international goal to level the match. Despite sustained pressure from the visitors, including efforts from Lazar Samardzic and Cvetkovic, the Dutch defense led by Van Dijk successfully repelled the Serbian attack to secure all three points.
The Netherlands will now focus on maintaining their momentum as they approach the final stages of the Nations League group phase, aiming to build on the tactical improvements established during this successful international window.