In Amsterdam, Xavi Hernández has taken Netherlands to the summit of Nations League Group A2 after only four matches in charge, but the new coach is measuring progress in more than points. His immediate aim is to shape a squad willing to work for one another, a team he describes as a family.
Sunday’s 2-1 win over Serbia moved the Dutch into first place in the group and left them well placed to reach the Nations League quarter-finals in March. It was a demanding evening rather than the possession performance Xavi had hoped to see.
Quick facts
- Netherlands beat Serbia 2-1 on Sunday.
- The result put the Dutch top of Nations League Group A2.
- They now have a strong chance of reaching March’s quarter-finals.
- Xavi has overseen four matches: a home draw with Germany, an away win in Serbia, a 2-2 comeback draw in Greece and Sunday’s victory.
- Netherlands have conceded in 12 consecutive matches.
“We fought as a family,” Xavi said after the Serbia match. “We had to endure a great deal. We needed to defend, even though our intention was to play possession football.”
Serbia prevented Netherlands from settling on the ball, he said, and the visitors were unable to dictate the contest. A tactical reshuffle improved the Dutch position, with Xavi again using a different shape from those deployed across his opening international window.
The coach believes the early sequence has given his players a wider understanding of how to manage games. Netherlands can now seek control through different approaches, he said, while also recognising when a low or medium defensive block is required.
Xavi was especially pleased by the group’s attitude and the character of his players, describing them as “wonderful people”. On the football side, however, he said improvement was needed across many areas.
The defensive record remains an obvious concern. Sunday’s Serbian goal extended the Netherlands’ run without a clean sheet to 12 games, and Xavi said work was under way to make his side harder to score against.
“The priority is to score one more than the opponent, but we also want clean sheets,” he said. “That takes time.”
After an intense start to his tenure, Xavi plans to take a brief rest while continuing to monitor his players. The standings offer encouragement, but his broader project is clear: turn a four-game opening into a durable Dutch collective.
