Van Dijk set for 100th Netherlands cap as Oranje prepare for Serbia

Virgil van Dijk is in line to make his 100th Netherlands appearance when Oranje face Serbia at the Philips Stadion on Sunday. The 35-year-old captain would become the 11th player to reach that landmark for the Dutch men and the first to do so since Memphis Depay. Van Dijk currently sits one cap behind Phillip Cocu, who finished on 101.

Denzel Dumfries could also move closer to a notable milestone. The 30-year-old Real Madrid right-back has made 79 international appearances, while Joey Veerman is hoping to collect his 20th cap. No debutants are expected because every player in Xavi’s squad has already represented the senior side.

The Netherlands are unbeaten through Xavi’s first three matches as head coach and sit second in their Nations League group with five points. They beat Serbia 2-1 in Belgrade last week, with Mexx Meerdink scoring twice. Sunday’s fixture will be Oranje’s 36th international at the Philips Stadion, moving the venue outright into fourth place among their most-used grounds.

A clean sheet would end a poor defensive sequence: the Netherlands have conceded in all 11 matches played this year, their longest such run since a 16-game stretch in 1958. Van Dijk and Dumfries are also the leading international scorers in the current squad, with 14 and 11 goals respectively, following several absences and non-selections among Oranje’s regular attacking options.