Netherlands beat Serbia 2–1 to lead Nations League Group A2

The Netherlands beat Serbia 2–1 on Sunday, October 4, 2026, at the Philips Stadion in Eindhoven. Teun Koopmeiners opened the scoring, Mihajlo Cvetković equalized for the visitors and Joshua Zirkzee delivered the winner. The result moved the Dutch to eight points and the provisional lead in UEFA Nations League Group A2—an important position, but not yet a guaranteed quarterfinal berth.

The goals in Netherlands 2–1 Serbia

Koopmeiners put the Netherlands ahead in the 30th minute. Serbia responded almost immediately, with Cvetković making it 1–1 in the 35th. The score remained level until the second half, when Zirkzee, introduced at halftime for Mexx Meerdink, struck in the 72nd minute to settle the match.

The match record published by OnsOranje also lists cautions for Stefan Gudelj, Strahinja Pavlović, Saša Lukić and Nemanja Maksimović. The match was played at the Philips Stadion in Eindhoven.

Zirkzee’s goal had an immediate impact because it broke a draw that would have left the Netherlands on six points. The win added two points to that scenario and kept the team unbeaten through four rounds, with two wins and two draws.

How Zirkzee decided the match

Zirkzee’s contribution explains the significance of the halftime change. He began on the bench, replaced Meerdink in the 46th minute and scored 26 minutes later. A specific tactical role cannot be established from the match sheet alone, but the sequence is unambiguous: introduction at the restart, goal in the 72nd minute and a 2–1 victory.

OnsOranje records three further Dutch changes in the 59th minute: Ruben van Bommel replaced Noa Lang, Jorrel Hato came on for Joey Veerman and Gjivai Zechiël replaced Ryan Gravenberch. Quinten Timber took Tijjani Reijnders’ place in the 82nd minute. Serbia introduced Luka Jović, Nemanja Maksimović, Filip Kostić, Andrija Živković and Nemanja Gudelj during the second half.

Lineups listed on the match sheet

The Netherlands started with Bart Verbruggen; Virgil van Dijk, Crysencio Summerville, Ryan Gravenberch, Noa Lang, Tijjani Reijnders, Micky van de Ven, Joey Veerman, Mexx Meerdink, Teun Koopmeiners and Denzel Dumfries. Van Dijk is listed as captain.

Serbia started with Vanja Milinković-Savić; Kosta Nedeljković, Strahinja Pavlović, Aleksandar Stanković, Dušan Tadić, Srđan Babić, Aleksa Terzić, Mihajlo Cvetković, Stefan Gudelj, Lazar Samardžić and Saša Lukić. Tadić is listed as captain. These are the names given by the official source, without assigning positions that it does not specify beyond the goalkeepers.

Why the lead is still provisional

The OnsOranje standings place the Netherlands first in Group A2 with eight points from four matches, seven goals scored and five conceded. Greece have seven points from three games, Germany four from three, while Serbia remain without a point after four defeats.

That means the Netherlands ended their match at the top but have not mathematically secured first place or a quarterfinal berth. Greece and Germany each still have a game in hand in the cited table, and every side will play six league-phase fixtures. “Provisional leaders” is therefore the accurate description as of October 4.

Under the competition format explained by UEFA, the winners and runners-up in each League A group advance to the quarterfinals. Teams below those positions face different outcomes involving survival, playoffs or relegation. With two rounds remaining, the Dutch advantage improves their position but does not settle the group.

The first four rounds in context

The Netherlands began with a 1–1 draw against Germany, beat Serbia 2–1 away and drew 2–2 with Greece before recording another 2–1 win over the Serbians. Those results appear in UEFA’s fixture and results list.

The sequence also explains the eight-point total: the Netherlands won both meetings with Serbia and shared the points with their direct rivals Germany and Greece. Serbia, by contrast, lost all four of their matches, including both encounters with the Dutch.

The November fixtures

The league phase concludes in November. The Netherlands host Greece on November 13 and visit Germany on November 16. In the same sequence, Serbia host Germany and then play Greece away. UEFA says the league phase began on September 24 and ends on November 17.

Those matches will determine the final Group A2 standings. As kickoff times and other arrangements may change, supporters should check UEFA’s official schedule before each game. Based on the position available on October 4, the conclusion is straightforward: the Netherlands still need the final two rounds to turn a provisional lead into a quarterfinal berth.