Serbia 1-2 Netherlands: Veerman’s 8.1 Sofascore Rating

The Netherlands left Belgrade with three UEFA Nations League points after a 2-1 win at Stadium Rajko Mitić. Mexx Meerdink scored both goals for the visitors, striking from the spot on 30 minutes before adding the winner in the 69th. Serbia had hope right after halftime when Luka Jović finished neatly to level at 1-1 in the 46th minute. It was a match with a clear territorial theme, and the numbers back it up.

The Oranje controlled 67% possession, attempted 634 passes and produced 25 shots to Serbia’s 11. Serbia did force a contest in the second half and found good moments in transition, but the overall shot quality also leaned orange with xG reading 2.75 to 1.41. On Sofascore, the team average Rating reflected that balance too, at 7.80 for the Netherlands against 6.88 for the hosts.

Possession and passing set the tone

– The Netherlands’ passing game dictated the night. They completed 571 accurate passes to Serbia’s 234 and registered 75 final-third entries versus Serbia’s 40. That much control allowed continual pressure, evidenced by 40 touches in the Serbian box to the home side’s 15.

– Shooting volume told the same story. The Netherlands fired 25 attempts with 8 on target, while Serbia produced 11 shots with 6 on target. The visitors’ xG of 2.75 captured both the penalty and a steady flow of chances, including 10 shots from outside the box and 10 efforts blocked by the Serbian back line.

– Dribbling and duels added another layer. The Oranje completed 8 of 18 dribbles; Serbia went 0 of 6. The Dutch also won 57% of total duels and dominated in the air, taking 19 of 29 aerials at 66%.

– In deeper build-up, composure and distribution stood out. Virgil van Dijk went 71 of 71 on passes, and Jan Paul van Hecke attempted a huge 117 passes, completing 109. That base allowed the midfield to progress the ball consistently and feed runners into the final third.

Second-half swing and Serbia’s punch

– Serbia responded well after the interval. In the second half they put up 9 shots to the Netherlands’ 15, and crucially hit 5 on target to the visitors’ 4. By expected goals on target, it was almost level after the break at 1.60 vs 1.59.

– Jović’s equaliser in the 46th minute, assisted by Saša Lukić, rewarded a sharper tempo and more direct running. Jović was highly involved in limited minutes, taking 6 shots, scoring once and posting 0.91 xG overall.

– The hosts also won the defensive activity count in several areas. Serbia made 17 tackles to 14, won 65% of those challenges, and produced 9 interceptions to the Netherlands’ 6. Recoveries were practically even at 41 to 40.

– Still, the Dutch kept threatening. They created 6 big chances to Serbia’s 4, and while both sides missed multiple big chances, the visitors’ repeated entries and crossing game eventually told. Crysencio Summerville’s direct play was key earlier too; he won the first-half penalty that Meerdink calmly converted.

Key moments and coaching moves

– Early disruption struck the Netherlands when Cody Gakpo had to come off injured on 17 minutes. Ruben van Bommel entered and later delivered strong ball-carrying numbers, keeping width and pace alive down the flank.

– Serbia went bold at halftime. Dušan Tadić and Luka Jović came on, and within a minute Jović had levelled from Lukić’s service. The switch lifted Serbia’s threat between the lines and gave them a target to play off in transition.

– Xavi’s changes on 67 minutes proved decisive for the Oranje. Guus Til entered and, two minutes later, slipped the assist to Meerdink for the 2-1. Kenneth Taylor also came on to freshen midfield legs as the Netherlands sought control in the final quarter-hour.

– The closing phase featured game management. Jurrien Timber replaced Denzel Dumfries on 80 minutes, while the Netherlands also withdrew Meerdink for Quinten Timber. A late yellow for Jurrien Timber aside, the visitors limited clear Serbian looks and saw the result home.

MVP: Joey Veerman’s midfield clinic

– Joey Veerman was at the heart of the Netherlands’ control with a Sofascore Rating of 8.1. He completed 105 of 117 passes and delivered 5 key passes, constantly knitting play from back to front. His 135 touches and 33 ball carries kept the Dutch in rhythm, while his 0.23 expected assists reflected steady chance creation.

– The PSV midfielder balanced creativity with work rate. He made 4 tackles, won 2 of them, and added 3 interceptions and 4 recoveries. He also hit 5 of 7 long balls, switched play when needed, and kept Serbia guessing by mixing short combinations with quicker vertical passes. In a match where structure mattered, Veerman’s decision-making and tempo were the difference between pressure and panic.

Other standouts and the battle in both boxes

– Jan Paul van Hecke quietly put together an outstanding night, earning a 7.8 Sofascore Rating with 11 clearances and 109 accurate passes. He read crosses well and stepped in to break lines when Serbia collapsed centrally.

– Virgil van Dijk added a 7.6 Rating with a pristine 71 of 71 passing line and 10 clearances, stabilising the back line during Serbia’s brighter second-half spells. On the flanks, Dumfries produced 3 key passes and 3 accurate crosses before departing.

– In goal, Bart Verbruggen made 5 saves for the Netherlands and finished with a 7.5 Rating. For Serbia, Vanja Milinković-Savić was tremendous, saving 6 and preventing an estimated 0.87 goals to post an 8.1 Rating, the joint-highest on the pitch.

– Serbia also found creative sparks. Dušan Tadić came on to create 2 big chances with 4 key passes and a 7.0 Rating, while Aleksandar Stanković won all 3 of his tackles in 59 minutes for a 7.0. Yet across the 90, the Dutch volume of possession, dribbles completed and sustained shot count, backed by a 2.75 xG, carried the night.

Player of the Match

By Sofascore Rating, Joey Veerman topped the match at 8.1. In the fan vote, Mexx Meerdink earned the most support with 1335 out of 3669 votes. The algorithm and the crowd went different ways, which tells you how many Dutch contributors impressed in Belgrade.