Xavi Celebrates First Netherlands Win as Denmark Defeat Wales 2026

Key Points

• Xavi gets first win as Holland coach after a 2-1 triumph over Serbia in Belgrade.
• Mexx Meerdink bags both goals for the Netherlands team including a penalty in the first period.
• Serbia scores an equaliser through Luka Jovic in the second period.
• The second goal of Mexx Meerdink in the 69th minute puts the Dutch ahead again.
• The Netherlands have now four points after two games in Group A2.
• Xavi’s debut as the Holland coach ends in a 1-1 draw against Germany.
• Denmark thrashes Wales 2-0 in Copenhagen in Group A4.
• Denmark bounce back from their shock defeat by Norway on Thursday.
• This makes it a fourth consecutive win for Denmark against Wales.
• Denmark failed to qualify for the World Cup after losing a penalty shoot-out against Czech Republic.

Wales (Wales Times) September 28, 2026 – Xavi wins first Netherlands match as head coach after the Netherlands defeated Serbia 2-1 in their UEFA Nations League Group A2 fixture. The result gave Xavi Hernández his first victory since taking charge of the Dutch national team and moved the Netherlands to four points from their opening two matches.

The Netherlands had begun Xavi’s tenure with a 1-1 draw against Germany on Thursday. They followed that result with a more significant away victory in Belgrade, although Serbia mounted a strong challenge after the visitors took control of the contest.

Mexx Meerdink was the decisive player for the Netherlands. The AZ Alkmaar forward scored twice, including the opening goal from the penalty spot and the winning goal in the second half. His performance was particularly notable because he was making his first start for the Netherlands.

According to Arab News, Meerdink opened the scoring in the 30th minute after confidently converting a penalty. Serbia responded after the break through Luka Jović, who brought the home side level. Meerdink then struck again in the 69th minute to restore the Netherlands’ advantage.

The second goal proved to be the winner as the Netherlands held on for a 2-1 victory. The result gives Xavi an early win during his first international coaching assignment and provides the team with a positive start in Group A2.

What did Mexx Meerdink contribute to the Netherlands victory?

Meerdink scored both of the Netherlands’ goals and directly determined the outcome of the match. His first goal came from a penalty in the 30th minute, giving the visitors an early advantage in a difficult away fixture.

The forward then responded to Serbia’s equaliser with another goal in the 69th minute. That second strike restored the Netherlands’ lead and ensured that Serbia’s reaction after half-time did not change the result.

The performance also marked an important personal moment for Meerdink. Arab News reported that the 23-year-old, who plays for AZ Alkmaar, was making his first start for the Netherlands. He rewarded Xavi’s decision by producing the goals that secured the new coach’s first win.

Meerdink’s display could increase competition for attacking positions in the Netherlands squad. However, the match itself does not establish a permanent change in the team’s selection hierarchy. It does show that the forward was able to take advantage of his opportunity when selected to start.

How did Serbia respond after falling behind?

Serbia stayed in the match after Meerdink’s opening penalty and eventually found an equaliser after half-time. Luka Jović scored to make the score 1-1 and put pressure on the Netherlands.

The equaliser demonstrated Serbia’s ability to recover after conceding first, particularly in front of their home supporters. The Netherlands, however, regained control when Meerdink scored his second goal in the 69th minute.

Serbia were unable to produce another equaliser before the final whistle. The 2-1 defeat leaves the Netherlands with the points from the fixture, while Serbia will have to respond in their next Group A2 match.

The result also reflects the narrow margin between the sides. Although the Netherlands won, the scoreline shows that Serbia remained competitive and created a difficult test for Xavi’s team.

What does the result mean for Xavi?

The victory gives Xavi a first win in charge after his opening match ended in a draw. His Netherlands side now have four points from two Group A2 matches, having drawn with Germany and defeated Serbia.

That record provides the former Barcelona midfielder with an encouraging beginning as an international coach. The team has avoided defeat in its first two matches under his leadership and has collected a valuable away win.

Xavi’s appointment has attracted attention because of his previous career as a midfielder and coach at club level. His early results with the Netherlands will now be assessed through the team’s performances in the Nations League and its progress within Group A2.

The win over Serbia does not settle the wider questions surrounding the Netherlands. It does, however, give Xavi time and momentum as he works to establish his methods with the national side.

The Netherlands’ next results will help show whether the victory in Belgrade was part of a consistent improvement or an isolated success. For the moment, the result gives the team a strong platform in the group.

How did Denmark beat Wales in Group A4?

Denmark defeated Wales 2-0 in Copenhagen to claim their first victory in the group after losing to Norway on Thursday. The result allowed Denmark to recover quickly from that dramatic defeat.

Arab News reported that Denmark had missed out on the World Cup after losing a penalty shoot-out against the Czech Republic in the play-offs. The team’s Nations League campaign therefore continued against Wales with the need to produce a positive response.

Denmark achieved that objective by scoring twice and keeping Wales out. The 2-0 result gave the Scandinavian side an important win in Group A4 and ended the immediate disappointment of the Norway match.

The victory also extended Denmark’s recent dominance in this fixture. The Danes have now won their last four meetings with Wales, according to Arab News.

The result adds to the pressure on Wales, who were unable to score in Copenhagen. Denmark, meanwhile, can use the clean sheet and two-goal victory as a foundation for the next stage of the group campaign.

What is Denmark’s record against Wales?

Denmark have now won four consecutive matches against Wales. The latest victory came in Copenhagen, where the Danes secured a 2-0 result.

The sequence gives Denmark a clear recent advantage in the fixture. It also underlines the difficulty Wales have faced when meeting the Scandinavian side in recent matches.

The latest result was especially important for Denmark because it followed their loss to Norway. Recovering with a home win prevented the defeat from becoming the defining result of the opening part of their campaign.

For Wales, the defeat creates an immediate need to improve their attacking output and overall results. The team must now seek points in its upcoming fixtures if it is to remain competitive in Group A4.

The four-match winning run belongs to Denmark’s recent record against Wales and does not guarantee the outcome of future meetings. Nevertheless, it gives the Danish team confidence whenever the sides meet.

What were the wider Nations League implications?

The Netherlands’ 2-1 win over Serbia moved them to four points from two matches in Group A2. Their campaign began with a draw against Germany before the victory in Belgrade.

Greece were identified by Arab News as the group leaders after recording two wins. That means the Netherlands remain in contention but still trail the leading side after the opening fixtures.

The result against Serbia therefore carries importance beyond Xavi’s first victory. It keeps the Netherlands close to the top of the group and provides a basis for competing for a stronger position in the remaining matches.

In Group A4, Denmark’s win over Wales followed their defeat by Norway. The result gave Denmark their first victory in the group and showed their ability to respond after a disappointing opening result.

The Nations League remains dependent on results across the full group schedule. Current positions and early points totals may change as more fixtures are played, so the Netherlands and Denmark will need to maintain consistency.

What is the background to Xavi’s Netherlands appointment and these matches?

Xavi Hernández began his Netherlands tenure with a 1-1 draw against Germany on Thursday. The match was his first as head coach of the Dutch national team and provided the opening indication of how he would manage the side.

His second match brought a different outcome. The Netherlands travelled to Belgrade and defeated Serbia 2-1, with Meerdink scoring twice. The win gave Xavi an immediate improvement in his results and placed the Netherlands on four points in Group A2.

The Netherlands’ campaign takes place within the wider Nations League competition, where teams compete in groups and results affect their progress in the tournament. The opening matches are important because points gained early can influence the pressure on teams later in the schedule.

Denmark’s match against Wales also had wider context. Denmark had lost to Norway on Thursday and had previously missed the World Cup after a penalty shoot-out defeat by the Czech Republic in the play-offs.

Their 2-0 win over Wales offered a response to those setbacks. It also extended Denmark’s winning run in direct meetings with Wales to four matches.

How could these results affect Netherlands, Denmark, Wales and Serbia supporters?

The Netherlands’ supporters can view the win in Belgrade as an encouraging early result under Xavi. Meerdink’s two goals give fans a new attacking performance to discuss, while the four-point total keeps the team in the Group A2 contest.

Serbia supporters will have been disappointed by the defeat but can take some encouragement from the team’s response after conceding the opening goal. Jović’s equaliser showed that Serbia could challenge the Netherlands, although the side could not recover after Meerdink’s second goal.

Denmark supporters receive a positive result after the loss to Norway. The clean sheet and two goals give the team renewed confidence, while the fourth straight win over Wales strengthens the sense that Denmark have recently controlled this fixture.

Wales supporters face a more difficult outlook after another defeat by Denmark. The result increases the importance of the team’s upcoming Group A4 matches, particularly because Wales failed to score in Copenhagen.

These effects are limited to the early stage of the Nations League campaign. The final consequences for qualification, standings or progression cannot be determined from these fixtures alone.