Milinković-Savić shines but Serbia lose 1-0 to Netherlands

Vanja Milinković-Savić saved almost everything that came his way, but it wasn't enough for Serbia: the Netherlands won 1-0 in Belgrade through a Meerdink goal. The Napoli goalkeeper, starting between the posts, produced a string of key interventions that kept his side in the game until the final whistle.

Two other Serie A players started for Serbia: Pavlović of Milan and Stanković of Inter, alongside Terzić of Frosinone. On the Dutch side, the only player from Italy's top flight to get on the pitch was Lazio's Taylor, who came on for Reijnders in the 67th minute. Napoli's other player on international duty with the Netherlands, Noa Lang, stayed on the bench for the entire match: zero minutes played.

For Milinković-Savić, it was a response, in the same Serbia camp, to the criticism that had put him in the firing line among Serbian supporters just days earlier: in stoppage time of Serbia's 1-2 defeat to Greece, an error of his had gifted Douvikas the winner. This time the performance was different, the result wasn't: Serbia lost again, and his good night stood alone as an individual highlight in a team defeat.

At Napoli, Milinković-Savić has also started in Serie A because of Alex Meret's injury, playing in the 1-1 draw in Florence on Sunday 20 September. His performances for his national team, for better or worse, therefore carry weight for Napoli's pecking order once the break ends. For Lang, meanwhile, continued snubs from his national team add to a start to the season already under scrutiny at Napoli, where his numbers have already been compared with those of Amin Younes.

The international break ends in the coming days: both players will return to Castel Volturno (Napoli's training ground) ahead of Napoli-Frosinone, scheduled for Saturday 10 October at the Maradona.