First Netherlands‑Serbia clash in Belgrade, Van Dijk nears 100 caps
On Sunday, the Dutch national team will play the first of two internationals against Serbia in Belgrade. It is the very first official meeting between the two countries and captain Virgil van Dijk is on 97 caps, close to the coveted hundred.
Historic first duel
So far, the Netherlands and Serbia have never played an official international match. Previously the opponent country consisted of Serbia and Montenegro, an entity that emerged from Yugoslavia in 2003 and existed until 2006. The Dutch national team has, however, played against those predecessors before, including at the 2006 World Cup against Serbia and Montenegro, where Arjen Robben decided the opening match with a 0‑1.
The last encounter with Yugoslavia took place during Euro 2000, where the Netherlands won 6‑1. Patrick Kluivert scored a hat‑trick, Marc Overmars provided a double strike and even an own goal by Dejan Govedarica fell in the Netherlands' favour. In injury time another goal by Savo Milosevic came for Yugoslavia.
Players, caps and goals
With this match Serbia becomes the 95th unique opponent of the Netherlands; the record opponent remains Belgium with 129 meetings. For Serbia the Netherlands is the 73rd unique opponent, after which they will have seventeen more countries that have played the Eagles only once during this international period.
Virgil van Dijk can reach his hundredth international after the match. After the previous match against Germany he had 97 caps and would become the eleventh player to enter the Club of Hundred, a group that, according to the Dutch School, consists of one goalkeeper, four defenders, three midfielders and three attackers.
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In the first match under national coach Xavi, two players made their debut. Joshua Zirkzee, the striker of Manchester United, can play his seventh international, while Kenneth Taylor already has five caps. Other squad members with one or no internationals are Mexx Meerdink, Robin Roefs, Ruben van Bommel and Gjivai Zechiël.
Cody Gakpo is on the brink of a new milestone on the Netherlands' all‑time top scorer list. After the match against Germany he has 25 goals, equal to Rafael van der Vaart. He still needs six more goals to match Wesley Sneijder’s record of 31.
The match is officiated by Polish referee Szymon Marciniak. The Netherlands have not yet won under his guidance; a loss to Mexico in 2014 (2‑3) and draws against Belgium, Northern Ireland and Norway follow.
The match takes place at the Rajko Mitic Stadium, also known as the Marakana, and this is the first time the Netherlands play there. In 1975 Yugoslavia lost when they won 3‑0 at the nearby Partizan Stadium, less than a kilometre from the Marakana.
The historic significance of this match goes beyond the game itself: it marks a new chapter in the international rivalry and gives Van Dijk the chance to enter an exclusive club of one hundred caps.