Netherlands beat Serbia 2-1 as Milinković-Savić falters on winner

The Netherlands beat Serbia 2-1 in their fourth Nations League match. Koopmeiners opened the scoring in the 31st minute, before Cvetkovic equalised for Serbia four minutes later.

It is a reversal of the last meeting between the sides, when the Napoli goalkeeper was the best player on the pitch despite Serbia losing 1-0. There is also the precedent of Saturday 25 September, when an uncertain punch in Serbia-Greece cost the match-winning goal, drawing criticism on Serbian social media in the days that followed.

On the other side, Noa Lang was given his first start under head coach Xavi. The Napoli winger played 58 minutes before making way for Van Bommel. It was a tidy display, but one without the spark he has also lacked at Napoli: four appearances, 184 minutes and no goals this season, the numbers behind the club's decision to set a €20m price on a January sale.

Milinković-Savić and Lang will now return to Castel Volturno (Napoli's training ground), where the squad is preparing for Napoli-Frosinone on Saturday 10 October. The goalkeeper's place remains behind Meret, who is the likely starter for that game, while the minutes Lang played for his country do not change the club's existing assessment of his future.