Xavi Hernandez’s fresh tactical vision has revitalised the Oranje squad, granting unexpected opportunities to Eredivisie standouts who were previously frozen out during the Ronald Koeman era.
The arrival of Xavi Hernandez as Netherlands head coach has opened the door to a number of players who were previously outside Ronald Koeman’s plans, according to ESPN analyst Marciano Vink.
Ruben van Bommel has made his Netherlands debut under Xavi, while former PSV midfielder Joey Veerman has returned to the squad. Guus Til and AZ striker Mexx Meerdink have also been involved after initially missing out on selection.
Vink believes the changes reflect a different approach from Xavi, who has shown a willingness to look beyond the established group of players.
Speaking on Voetbalpraat on ESPN, the former PSV player pointed specifically to the opportunities now being handed to the PSV contingent.
“Koeman had never put Veerman back in that position again. He had also never called up Meerdink as a replacement for Malen. Not yet. He had also not called up Van Bommel and Til, you know…”
Xavi Admits Mistake Over Til
Til was initially left out of Xavi’s squad but received a late call-up after Justin Kluivert withdrew through injury.
The Netherlands coach subsequently acknowledged that Til should have been selected from the beginning.
“Guus Til is doing great. He deserved to play. I also told him: ‘I was wrong, you belong in the squad’. You have to be honest,” Xavi said.
Til has since featured for Oranje, while Van Bommel has made an immediate impression after being handed his debut. The PSV winger produced a decisive assist for Cody Gakpo against Germany, helping the Netherlands secure a 1-1 draw.
Meerdink has also benefited from the change in the national-team setup. The AZ striker was initially omitted before being called up following the withdrawal of former PSV forward Donyell Malen.
For Vink, the sequence of selections points to a broader change in how the Netherlands squad is being assembled.
“It seems as if something more is possible under this national coach. Outside the usual 24 names and the plan that was in place,” he concluded, as quoted by PSV Inside.
Veerman’s Oranje Return
Veerman’s return is particularly notable given his strained relationship with Koeman following Euro 2024 in Germany.
The midfielder subsequently fell out of the former coach’s plans and was involved in a public disagreement with Koeman ahead of the World Cup.
Under Xavi, however, Veerman has been restored to the Netherlands setup and started the 2-1 victory over Serbia and the 2-2 draw against Greece, where he provided a precise corner kick assist for Virgil van Dijk's goal in the 59th minute.
The midfielder also played a role in the winning goal, delivering the pass that eventually led to Guus Til providing the assist for Meerdink.
With Xavi now willing to explore alternatives beyond the established group, several players who had been overlooked under Koeman have been given an opportunity to establish themselves in the new Oranje setup. For PSV, that has already meant international opportunities for Van Bommel, Veerman and Til.
