Serbia vs Netherlands: Belgrade Becomes the Next Test for Two New Eras

A match between Serbia and the Netherlands normally carries its own weight, but this meeting arrives with both teams still defining themselves under new circumstances. Serbia come into the second round of Nations League Group A2 after a 2–1 defeat to Greece despite Andrija Živković giving them an early lead in Belgrade. The Netherlands also collected only one point from their opening fixture, drawing 1–1 with Germany after Cody Gakpo equalised in added time. That result gave Xavi Hernández an unbeaten start in his first competitive match as Netherlands head coach. Serbia therefore need to respond after surrendering a winning position, while the Dutch side travel to Belgrade looking to turn a promising late recovery into a complete performance. The match is also the first of two meetings between these teams in the October sequence, with the return fixture scheduled for Eindhoven on 4 October.

The tactical contrast is likely to emerge around Serbia’s attacking transitions and the Netherlands’ ability to control possession without becoming vulnerable behind the ball. Serbia opened against Greece with an early Živković goal and later had a chance through Saša Lukić that struck the post, but Greece ultimately turned the contest around with goals from Christos Tzolis and Tasos Douvikas. Veljko Paunović subsequently called for greater self-belief and patience rather than rushing attacking moves, a message that is particularly relevant against a Netherlands team capable of punishing rushed possession. Xavi’s first match showed a side prepared to take initiative, and UEFA’s account of the Germany game noted that the Dutch created opportunities before Gakpo’s late equaliser. Virgil van Dijk remains captain under Xavi, while the squad contains several players familiar with Serbian football through their club careers. The question for both teams is therefore not simply who controls the ball, but who can turn territorial control into clearer chances.

Personnel availability adds another layer before the teams walk onto the Rajko Mitić pitch. Serbia’s September squad was announced without Aleksandar Mitrović, Nikola Milenković and Predrag Rajković, with the Serbian federation’s announcement identifying the trio as unavailable because of injuries. Dušan Vlahović was included in the initial squad list, but he subsequently withdrew after reporting a calf problem, according to pre-match reporting around the Serbian camp. The Netherlands have also lost two players from their original group during the international window. Brian Brobbey suffered an injury during the first half against Germany and was replaced in the squad by Joshua Zirkzee, while Lutsharel Geertruida subsequently left the Netherlands squad because of injury without a replacement being called up. Those confirmed changes affect both teams, but neither side has released an official starting XI at the time of this preview, so predicted formations are deliberately not presented as confirmed lineups.

The pre-match conversation has consequently centered on reaction rather than reputation. UEFA’s Matchday 2 preview notes Paunović’s call for Serbia to show more belief after the Greece defeat, while the Netherlands arrive after Xavi’s side rescued a point against Germany with Gakpo’s late finish. UEFA also highlights the return of Dušan Tadić to international football and his connections with several Netherlands players, including Ryan Gravenberch and Kenneth Taylor from his Ajax period and Van Dijk from their Southampton days. The Rajko Mitić Stadium provides Serbia with the home setting, but the Netherlands have already demonstrated in their opening match that they can remain dangerous deep into a contest. With both teams entering the evening on one point, the result will immediately affect the shape of Group A2 after two rounds. The official lineups remain the final piece of the pre-match picture and should only be treated as confirmed once published by UEFA or the national associations.

🩺 Current Injury Situation

Serbia

Serbia Injury Update
Out / Ruled Out	Aleksandar Mitrović	Knee ligament injury; unavailable for the September Nations League fixtures
Out / Ruled Out	Nikola Milenković	Injury; unavailable for the September Nations League fixtures
Out / Ruled Out	Predrag Rajković	Injury; unavailable for the September Nations League fixtures
Questionable	Dušan Vlahović	Withdrew from the squad after reporting a calf problem

Netherlands

Netherlands Injury Update
Out / Ruled Out	Brian Brobbey	Injury suffered against Germany; replaced in the squad by Joshua Zirkzee
Out / Ruled Out	Lutsharel Geertruida	Injury; left the Netherlands squad with no replacement called up

⭐ Official Matchday Personnel

The official starting XIs had not been published when this article was prepared, so the tables below do not present predicted elevens as confirmed selections. Instead, they identify the coaches and established matchday personnel officially contained in the UEFA squad lists. Serbia’s squad includes Vanja Milinković-Savić, Strahinja Pavlović, Sergej Milinković-Savić, Saša Lukić, Filip Kostić, Andrija Živković, Luka Jović and the returning Dušan Tadić. The Netherlands squad includes captain Virgil van Dijk alongside Ryan Gravenberch, Tijjani Reijnders, Frenkie’s former Barcelona colleague? No — the current official list instead includes the confirmed midfield group of Gravenberch, Kenneth Taylor, Reijnders, Guus Til, Joey Veerman, Quinten Timber and Teun Koopmeiners. Up front, Cody Gakpo, Crysencio Summerville, Noa Lang, Joshua Zirkzee, Mexx Meerdink and Ruben van Bommel are listed. The final starting lineups must be taken from the official team sheets once released.

Serbia — Key Personnel

Serbia Key Personnel
Head Coach	Veljko Paunović	Serbia head coach
Midfielder	Sergej Milinković-Savić	Named in the official UEFA squad
Midfielder	Saša Lukić	Started against Greece
Forward	Dušan Tadić	Returned to the Serbia national team
Forward	Andrija Živković	Scored against Greece
Forward	Luka Jović	Named in the official UEFA squad

Netherlands — Key Personnel

Netherlands Key Personnel
Head Coach	Xavi Hernández	Netherlands head coach
Defender	Virgil van Dijk	Netherlands captain
Midfielder	Ryan Gravenberch	Started against Germany
Midfielder	Tijjani Reijnders	Started against Germany
Forward	Cody Gakpo	Scored the late equaliser against Germany
Forward	Joshua Zirkzee	Added to the squad after Brobbey’s injury

📰 What Is Being Discussed Before Kick-Off?

UEFA’s official Matchday 2 preview has framed the fixture around Serbia’s response to the Greece defeat and the Netherlands’ late recovery against Germany. Paunović specifically asked Serbia to show greater belief and avoid rushing attacks after his side surrendered its early advantage. On the Dutch side, Xavi’s debut ended with a 1–1 draw, and Gakpo’s stoppage-time finish prevented Germany from taking all three points. UEFA also places particular attention on Tadić’s return to international football and his links to several Dutch players from his club career. The match therefore arrives with several personal connections alongside the competitive situation in Group A2. Neither side has won yet in the section, making the second round an important opportunity to establish momentum.

• Competition: UEFA Nations League 2026/27 — League A, Group 2
• Date: 27 September 2026
• Venue: Rajko Mitić Stadium, Belgrade
• Kick-off: 18:00 CET
• Serbia’s opening result: Serbia 1–2 Greece
• Netherlands’ opening result: Netherlands 1–1 Germany
• Serbia’s confirmed injury absences: Aleksandar Mitrović, Nikola Milenković and Predrag Rajković
• Netherlands’ confirmed injury absences: Brian Brobbey and Lutsharel Geertruida
• Serbia coach: Veljko Paunović
• Netherlands coach: Xavi Hernández

🔍 The Tactical Fault Line

Serbia’s first match showed how quickly the balance can change when an early advantage is not followed by control of the next phase. Their ability to attack through Živković, Tadić and Kostić gives Paunović several creative options, while the midfield pairing and the defensive structure will have to withstand a Netherlands side that wants to play with intensity and initiative. Xavi said before his first Nations League match that he wanted the Netherlands to take responsibility for the game rather than simply react to opponents. Against Serbia, that approach could create spaces if possession is lost in advanced positions. At the other end, Serbia have the opportunity to use the home atmosphere and direct attacking combinations to force the Netherlands into defensive transitions. The final team sheets will reveal how each coach intends to balance those two demands.

📍 Match Setting and Key Facts

• Stadium: Rajko Mitić Stadium, Belgrade
• Group: Nations League League A2
• Matchday: 2
• Referee: Szymon Marciniak of Poland
• VAR: Piotr Lasyk of Poland
• Next meeting: Netherlands vs Serbia in Eindhoven on 4 October 2026
• Official starting XIs: Not released at the time of this pre-match article

Serbia and the Netherlands therefore arrive in Belgrade with different immediate concerns but the same points total. Serbia must respond to a late defeat after leading Greece, while the Netherlands need to turn the attacking promise of Xavi’s opening match into a first victory under their new coach. Injuries have removed important names from both squads, including Mitrović and Milenković for Serbia and Brobbey and Geertruida for the Netherlands. Tadić’s return gives the Serbian side an additional experienced creative presence, while Gakpo enters the match after scoring the Netherlands’ late equaliser against Germany. The tactical contest should revolve around how Serbia’s attacking combinations cope with the Netherlands’ pressing and possession approach. With no official starting XI published yet, the pre-match picture remains deliberately limited to confirmed squad, injury and tactical information.

⚽1st Half English
🥅 Watch	Server #1

⚽2st Half English
🥅 Watch	Server #1

⚽Highlights
🥅 Watch	Server #1

⚽Full Match English
🥅 Watch	Server #1