Joshua Zirkzee arrived at half-time and supplied the decisive touch as the Netherlands edged Serbia 2-1 in the Nations League on Sunday, a restrained victory that nevertheless kept the Dutch at the summit of Group 2.
The move
The match had been short on precision in the final third, with the Netherlands struggling to turn their territorial control into clear chances. Teun Koopmeiners finally broke the deadlock in the 31st minute, sending an angled free-kick into the box that evaded every player and caught Serbia goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic by surprise.
Serbia responded four minutes later. Virgil van Dijk misplaced a ball around the halfway line, allowing Dusan Tadic’s side to build down the left. Aleksa Terzic delivered the cross and Mihajlo Cvetkovic arrived in front of goal to head in the equaliser.
Zirkzee was introduced at the interval and eventually settled the contest in the 72nd minute. Denzel Dumfries’ cross was met by Ruben van Bommel, whose effort travelled across the face of goal towards the far post. Zirkzee reacted quickest, finishing from close range to restore the Oranje lead.
The French season around it
There was no Ligue 1 representative at the centre of the match, but the result carries weight in the international calendar surrounding the French season. The Netherlands have taken eight points from four Group 2 fixtures, recording two wins and two draws.
They lead Greece on the same total, while Germany sit third with five points and face virtual elimination. Serbia remain bottom with no points after four matches and cannot progress before the final two rounds.
The Dutch did not produce a statement performance, but Zirkzee’s sharpness in the box gave them the result they needed: first place, eight points and control of their group with two games still to play.
