Xavi pleased with Netherlands first win as Mexx Meerdink scores twice

The former Barcelona manager officially opened his win column on Sunday, September 27, 2026, guiding the Oranje past Serbia away from home after opening his tenure with a stalemate against Germany just days prior. Speaking about the results in his post-match assessments, Xavi emphasized that securing victories takes precedence over stylistic perfection during the ongoing UEFA Nations League campaign.

Assessing the First Two Matches and Tactical Shortcomings

Xavi offered a balanced appraisal of the team’s early performances under his leadership. While pleased to capture four points from his opening two fixtures, the Spanish coach highlighted defensive lapses and missed opportunities in transition.

“The most important is always to take the three points,” Xavi stated. “I am happy that we managed to do that. But we have to play better because, especially in the first half, our pressing was not good.”

The manager also pointed to deficiencies in positional discipline and attacking velocity, noting that the squad frequently failed to exploit open space during the matches against Germany and Serbia. According to Xavi, the team must widen the pitch and accelerate ball movement in upcoming fixtures.

Mexx Meerdink Shines in Breakthrough Performance

AZ Alkmaar striker Mexx Meerdink emerged as the central figure of the Netherlands’ victory over Serbia. After making a substitute appearance against Germany, the 23-year-old forward earned his first international start and responded by scoring both goals for the Oranje.

Xavi praised the young forward’s industrious work rate, indicating that Meerdink’s contributions extended well beyond his scoring output.

“Mexx works very hard and understands how we want to play,” Xavi said. “He helped the team well beyond his goals, even though those were obviously important. The work he did for the team was fantastic.”