The Aporia · Meerdink gives Xavi his first win as Netherlands coach, Israel faces Ireland in contentious match

Meerdink gives Xavi his first win as Netherlands coach, Israel faces Ireland in contentious match

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Fahey, C. (2026, September 27). Meerdink gives Xavi his first win as Netherlands coach, Israel faces Ireland in contentious match. Toronto Star. https://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer/meerdink-gives-xavi-his-first-win-as-netherlands-coach-israel-faces-ireland-in-contentious-match/article_706ff61c-ea4a-512d-833c-46dd0ad131c9.html

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Mexx Meerdink scored two goals to help the Netherlands defeat Serbia 2-1 in a Nations League match on Sunday, securing Xavi Hernández's first victory as the Dutch national team coach. Meanwhile, Israel is set to face Ireland later in Debrecen, Hungary, with tensions running high due to opposition from Irish players and supporters over Israel’s actions in Gaza, leading some like reserve goalkeeper Gavin Bazuno to boycott the match entirely.

Written by AI on 2026-09-27, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

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Mexx Meerdink scored twice as the Netherlands beat Serbia 2-1 away on Sunday, securing Xavi Hernández's first win as the national team coach. The 23-year-old player, who plays for AZ Alkmaar, made his first start with a penalty in the 30th minute and later canceled Luka Jović’s equalizer to score the winning goal in the 69th minute. Meanwhile, Israel is set to play Ireland in Debrecen, Hungary, but the match has faced opposition in Ireland due to tensions over Israel's actions in Gaza. Irish reserve goalkeeper Gavin Bazuno decided to boycott both games against Israel because of his personal belief that it is wrong to kill innocent people.

Written for “Netherlands Football Coaching Change” on 2026-10-30, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

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Ciarán Fahey

9 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction

🔮 Motsepe, who last December announced the biennial Africa Cup would switch to a four-year cycle from 2028, said on Friday that it was “nonsense, absolute rubbish” that CAF was being dictated to by either the world or European governing body.

2026-10-09 · assertive framing · CAF president says keeping Africa Cup of Nations as a biennial competition is back on the agenda

🔮 “I wouldn’t wish any national team to go through what we have gone through these two weeks, so maybe UEFA just needs to step in and do something.”

2026-10-05 · assertive framing · Ireland coach wants UEFA to keep team apart from Israel after contentious games

🔮 Four consecutive Nations League matches during the first international break of the season gave Klopp time to experiment and draw conclusions that may yet lead to success, but they also showed there won’t be a quick fix for the German national team after a decade of disappointment.

2026-10-05 · assertive framing · Jürgen Klopp's fresh start with Germany is being measured in enthusiasm, not results

🔮 Germany dominated with more possession, more passes and more goal chances, but neither team could score.

2026-10-05 · assertive framing · Portugal stays perfect without Ronaldo in Nations League, Germany held by Greece

🔮 It has fueled speculation it may be the end for the veteran star.

2026-10-02 · assertive framing · Klopp celebrates 1st Germany win and Portugal moves on from Cristiano Ronaldo in Nations League

🔮 Ireland vs Israel on and off the field Israel will play Ireland later in Debrecen, Hungary in a match that has faced bitter opposition in Ireland over Israel’s actions in Gaza.

2026-09-27 · assertive framing · Meerdink gives Xavi his first win as Netherlands coach, Israel faces Ireland in contentious match

🔮 The 19-year-old sensation could only score three points in her second game after 13 on her World Cup debut against the United States on Friday.

2026-09-06 · assertive framing · China edges Czech Republic in overtime thriller at Women’s Basketball World Cup, US-Italy later

Also by Ciarán Fahey

Napoli stunned by previously winless Venezia, PSG warms up for Barcelona showdown with a victory

2026-10-17 · Toronto Star

CAF president says keeping Africa Cup of Nations as a biennial competition is back on the agenda

2026-10-09 · Toronto Star

Ireland coach wants UEFA to keep team apart from Israel after contentious games

2026-10-05 · Toronto Star

Jürgen Klopp's fresh start with Germany is being measured in enthusiasm, not results

2026-10-05 · Toronto Star

Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.

All 9 articles by Ciarán Fahey →

Claims (11 extracted, 0 hedged)

Mexx Meerdink scored twice as the Netherlands beat Serbia 2-1 away in the Nations League on Sunday, giving new coach Xavi Hernándeez his first win in charge. asserted

Netherlands → score → charge

The 23-year-old Meerdink, who plays for AZ Alkmaar, made his first start for his country and he opened the scoring with a confidently taken penalty in the 30th minute before canceling Luka Jović’s equalizer after the break with what proved to be the winner in the 69th. asserted

what → play → 69th

It was set up by Ruben van Bommel, who has now created as many goals in as many games for the Dutch after his brilliant cross for Cody Gakpo’s late equalizer in the 1-1 draw with Germany on Friday. asserted

who → set → Friday

Meerdink, who made his second appearance after his debut Friday, has two goals in as many games. asserted

who → make → games

They gave the Netherlands its first win in Group A2, where Germany hosted Greece in Augsburg later. asserted

Germany → give → Augsburg

Ireland vs Israel on and off the field Israel will play Ireland later in Debrecen, Hungary in a match that has faced bitter opposition in Ireland over Israel’s actions in Gaza. asserted

that → play → Gaza

Reserve goalkeeper Gavin Bazuno decided Saturday to boycott both of Ireland’s games against Israel because of what he said was his “personal belief that the killing of innocent people is wrong.” asserted

killing → decide → people

The remaining Irish players intended to wear black armbands and refrain from the customary pre-game niceties. asserted

players → remain → niceties

Austria defeated Kosovo 3-1 in the other Group B3 game Sunday. asserted

Austria → defeat → game

Also, Denmark defeated Wales 2-0 for its first win in Group A4, where Norway hosted Portugal later. asserted

Norway → defeat → Portugal

Lithuania and Azerbaijan drew 1-1 in Group D2. asserted

Lithuania → draw → D2

Meerdink gives Xavi his first win as Netherlands coach, Israel faces Ireland in contentious match

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