Mexx Meerdink is part of an Oranje squad being asked to wait until the final stretch before kick-off to learn whether they are starting, with Xavi Hernández saying the line-up will only be revealed about 1.5 to 2 hours before the Nations League duel with Servië.
It is a notable shift for the Netherlands. Under Louis van Gaal, players were often told days in advance whether they would play. Xavi Hernández, by contrast, is using a method he says comes from his own career and one he believes keeps everyone sharper right up to matchday.
On Saturday evening in Belgrado, Micky van de Ven sat next to Xavi Hernández in the press room of the Rajko Mitic-stadion, where the Oranje coach explained why he prefers to keep his cards close to his chest.
Why Xavi Hernández prefers the late call
“Als speler vond ik het vreselijk als ik ruim van tevoren de opstelling al wist. Dit is beter voor de focus,” Xavi Hernández said, making clear that the decision is about concentration as much as selection.
He added that his view comes directly from experience. “Dat komt voort uit mijn spelerscarrière,” he said, before explaining that he disliked knowing too early whether he would start or not.
“Ik had er zelf een hekel aan als ik al ruim van tevoren wist of ik ging spelen, of juist niet,” Xavi Hernández said. “Mijn ervaring is dat spelers niet optimaal geconcentreerd zijn als de opstelling ruim van tevoren al bekend is. Ik wil iedere speler in de selectie erbij houden. Iedereen moet elkaar scherp houden. Dat lukt op deze manier het beste.”
That is the central point of the approach. Xavi Hernández is not just trying to manage the XI for one match; he is trying to keep the whole squad engaged. For a group that includes players like Mexx Meerdink and Micky van de Ven, the message is simple: stay ready, because the answer is coming late.
A familiar habit in Spain, unusual in the Netherlands
The practice is more typical in Spain than in the Netherlands, which helps explain why it feels different around Oranje. Xavi Hernández said, “Wel meer trainers hadden die gewoonte,” but also admitted, “Ik hield er niet van. Ik voelde me dan niet optimaal.”
That late decision also carries a practical benefit. By waiting until close to kick-off, the coach reduces the chance of lineup leaks, which is another useful layer of control on a night when selection details matter.
For Micky van de Ven, the preference is different. “Ik vind het altijd wel lekker om te weten of ik speel, eerlijk gezegd,” he said. But Xavi Hernández’s answer to that is already clear: “Hij hoort het morgen wel.”
So the Oranje players, including Mexx Meerdink, will wait until roughly 1.5 to 2 hours before the match to discover the starting line-up. In Xavi Hernández’s view, that delay is not a problem. It is the point.
