Meerdink and Van Bommel show Eredivisie's importance for the Oranje

With two goals against Serbia in the Nations League and an assist against Germany, Mexx Meerdink and Ruben van Bommel showed that players from the Eredivisie can play a crucial role for the Netherlands, to the delight of national team coach Xavi and the Dutch football association.

Meerdink, 23, came on as a substitute for Brian Brobbey and scored twice in Belgrade in a 1-2 victory. He had already shown his worth against Germany and received the second goal from Guus Til, a fellow Eredivisie player.

Van Bommel's contribution

Ruben van Bommel, 22, delivered a superb assist for the draw against Germany (1-1) and later hit the post with a shot. The PSV player thereby confirmed that young Eredivisie talents can perform at international level.

Although the Eredivisie does not have the level of the top leagues in Europe, it does appear to produce young players who can support the Netherlands at the highest level.

Eredivisie's role for the Netherlands

In recent years the Premier League has been the norm for the Netherlands: three PL players in the 2022 World Cup squad under Louis van Gaal, rising to fifteen under Ronald Koeman for the 2026 World Cup. At the same time the number of Eredivisie players fell from twelve in 2022 to two this year, namely Guus Til and Wout Weghorst.

Xavi celebrates Dutch victory at the Rajko Mitić in Belgrade

Former national team coach Ronald Koeman warned: “As an Eredivisie player you have to be really good to still be able to make the cut.” He later expressed concerns about the quality of the Eredivisie: “Quality has been compromised. We all need to be worried.”

New national team coach Xavi sees it differently. He stated: “For me Ajax‑PSV was at Champions League level. The Eredivisie is good. Of course it depends on the clubs, but the big clubs have good players and great talents.” Xavi added that he looks more at individual players, their playing rhythm and passion than at the club or competition.

In Xavi’s original squad there were three Eredivisie players: Gjivai Zechiël, Ruben van Bommel and Lutsharel Geertruida. After the withdrawal of Justin Kluivert and Donyell Malen, Guus Til and Mexx Meerdink were added, bringing the number of Eredivisie players in the group to four, including Zechiël who regularly plays for the Netherlands U21.

Meerdink and Veerman lead Xavi to first Nations League win

For Meerdink this was the first time since March 31, when Jerdy Schouten started for PSV against Ecuador, that an Eredivisie player has been on the field for the Netherlands. The seven intervening internationals had no starter from the Dutch league, and at the previous World Cup there were even no Eredivisie players against Japan and Tunisia. The last Eredivisie scorer before Meerdink was Quinten Timber in September last year against Lithuania. With two goals Meerdink now shows that an Eredivisie player in 2026 can be important for the Netherlands.