Serbia and the Netherlands will meet at Rajko Mitic Stadium on Sunday in the second round of Nations League Group A2.
The hosts have welcomed Dusan Tadic back into the squad, but injuries have taken away several important players. The Netherlands is beginning a new cycle under Xavi Hernandez.
Verdict: Netherlands to win
Best odds: 13/20
Bookmaker: 1xBet
Serbia
Serbia needs this international window to bring some improvement after a difficult first half of the year.
Before the September fixtures, its four matches in 2026 produced a 3-0 defeat against Spain, a 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia, a 3-0 loss to Cape Verde and a 5-1 defeat against Mexico.
The summer results need some context. Serbia took an inexperienced team to Mexico, and the young players struggled with the demands of that game. Veljko Paunovic now has several senior players back, so this squad offers him more to work with.
Tadic's return after more than two years away should help Serbia keep possession in attacking areas. His ability to slow a move down, draw a defender toward him and then release a teammate could be useful against an opponent expected to press aggressively.
The problem is who finishes those moves. Aleksandar Mitrovic and Dusan Vlahovic are both unavailable, leaving Luka Jovic with a larger share of the responsibility in the penalty area.
Serbia also has to defend without Nikola Milenkovic. That absence matters against a Dutch attack which can threaten through the middle and send quick players into the channels.
The hosts need their midfield to stay close enough to the defense to stop those runs becoming easy chances. If Serbia has to keep chasing back toward its own goal, even a good spell from Tadic may produce only a brief break in the pressure.
Serbia Team News
Mitrovic and Milenkovic were left out of the squad through injury. Vlahovic subsequently withdrew, with Paunovic confirming that the striker reported a calf problem after his club match.
Jovic is an option to lead the attack, with Dejan Joveljic, Jovan Milosevic and Mihajlo Cvetkovic also available.
Vanja Milinkovic-Savic and Djordje Petrovic are among the goalkeeping choices. Strahinja Pavlovic should be important in defense, while Nemanja Gudelj can provide experience either at the back or in midfield.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Sasa Lukic and Aleksandar Stankovic give Paunovic midfield options. Andrija Zivkovic and Filip Kostic can provide width around Tadic.
The final selection will also depend on recovery from Thursday's opener against Greece, with only three days between the two home matches.
Netherlands
The Netherlands has plenty to prove after an early World Cup exit.
They scored 10 goals in the group stage, drawing 2-2 with Japan and beating Sweden 5-1 and Tunisia 3-1. However, a penalty shootout defeat against Morocco in the round of 32 ended the tournament after a 1-1 draw.
Those results showed both sides of the team. The Netherlands had enough attacking quality to score freely, but conceded in all four World Cup matches and struggled to take control against Morocco.
Xavi wants greater intensity and more initiative from his players. Against Serbia, that could mean trying to win possession before the hosts can find Tadic and move up the field.
Ryan Gravenberch can carry the ball through midfield, while Tijjani Reijnders offers movement beyond the first line of pressure. Cody Gakpo gives the visitors a scorer who can come inside from the left and attack the space around the striker.
That variety should test a Serbian defense missing one of its most established players. The Netherlands can also bring pace from the bench if the game opens up later on.
There are reasons to expect resistance. Serbia has experienced creators, and the Dutch defense has work to do before anyone can rely on a clean sheet. Even so, the visitors look better equipped to create chances throughout the match.
Netherlands Team News
Frenkie de Jong and Mats Wieffer are unavailable through injury, while Memphis Depay was omitted from Xavi's first squad.
Justin Kluivert and Donyell Malen have also withdrawn, with Guus Til and Mexx Meerdink called up as replacements.
Virgil van Dijk remains captain. Bart Verbruggen is among the goalkeeping options, while Jurrien Timber, Micky van de Ven and Jan Paul van Hecke give Xavi several choices in defense.
Gravenberch and Reijnders should be important in midfield, with Teun Koopmeiners and Joey Veerman also in the squad.
Gakpo, Brian Brobbey, Noa Lang and Crysencio Summerville provide attacking options. As with Serbia, the starting lineup will depend partly on the physical demands of Thursday's match, when the Netherlands faces Germany.
Serbia vs Netherlands key factors to consider
- Serbia lost three of its four internationals before the September window.
- Serbia is without Mitrovic, Vlahovic and Milenkovic through injury.
- Tadic has returned to the national squad after more than two years away.
- The Netherlands scored 10 goals in three World Cup group matches.
- The Netherlands conceded in all four of its World Cup games.
- De Jong, Wieffer, Kluivert and Malen are unavailable for the visitors.
- Both teams have a Thursday fixture before meeting in Belgrade on Sunday.
Conclusion
Serbia should benefit from having Tadic and other experienced players back together, particularly when it gets the chance to slow the game down and build an attack.
The injuries make this a difficult assignment, though. Missing Mitrovic and Vlahovic reduces the options up front, while Milenkovic's absence leaves the defense with another problem against a mobile Dutch attack.
The Netherlands is also adjusting to a new coach and has several absences of its own. A comfortable victory would be too much to assume, especially with the visitors' recent difficulty keeping clean sheets.
Still, Gakpo, Gravenberch and Reijnders give the Dutch enough quality to create the better opportunities. Netherlands to win is the preferred selection.
Verdict: Netherlands to win
Best odds: 13/20
Bookmaker: 1xBet
