Feyenoord midfielder Gjivai Zechiël will not feature in the Netherlands’ upcoming Nations League match against Serbia. The 22-year-old remains with the Dutch national team squad, but has been ruled out of the match-day selection for the fixture in Belgrade as he continues to manage his fitness following his recent return to the international setup.
Match-Day Selection and Availability
Head coach Xavi Hernández confirmed that Zechiël is not yet match-fit for the encounter, which is scheduled to kick off at 18:00 local time (16:00 UTC) on Sunday in Belgrade. This follows a period of transition for the player, who initially joined the Jong Oranje squad earlier in the week. Zechiël appeared in a European Championship qualifying match against Norway U21 on Friday before transitioning back to the senior team environment.
The decision keeps the Feyenoord talent waiting for his senior international debut. Zechiël was also omitted from the match-day squad for the previous fixture against Germany, a match that concluded in a 1-1 draw and saw international debuts for substitutes Mexx Meerdink and Ruben van Bommel.
Squad Limitations and Team Composition
The Netherlands squad is currently operating with 24 players. Because UEFA regulations limit the match-day squad to 23 players, Hernández was required to leave one player out of the final selection for the Serbia match. Along with Zechiël, Liverpool right-back Jeremie Frimpong has been excluded from the match-day squad for this specific fixture.
Future International Fixtures
Despite being unavailable for the trip to Belgrade, Zechiël will remain with the senior national team for the duration of the current international window. The Netherlands faces a busy schedule ahead, with an away match against Greece on Thursday, October 1, followed by a home fixture against Serbia in Eindhoven on Sunday, October 4. Zechiël remains in contention to earn his first senior cap during either of these upcoming matches.
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