{
  "id": 8867816,
  "title": "Meerdink and Til added to Oranje Nations League squad",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/meerdink-and-til-added-to-oranje-nations-league-squad",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-21T07:18:46.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "DutchNews",
    "slug": "dutchnews",
    "url": "https://www.dutchnews.nl/2026/09/meerdink-and-til-added-to-oranje-nations-league-squad/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "AZ Alkmaar's Mexx Meerdink and PSV's Guus Til have been added to the Netherlands men's football squad as late replacements for the Nations League match against Germany. The squad, under coach Xavi Hernandez, is led by Xavi Hernandez. The additions come as replacements for Justin Kluivert and Donyell Malen, who withdrew due to injuries. Til, 28, has eight caps in his career and scored twice for PSV against Twente Enschede. Meerdink, 23, aims to earn his first cap and had previously scored AZ's only goal against Telstar. With the pair's inclusion, five Eredivisie players now feature in the 26-man squad. This will be the first match for Xavi Hernandez as head coach since his appointment last month.",
  "summary": "AZ Alkmaar striker Mexx Meerdink and PSV’s Guus Til have been called up as late replacements to Xavi Hernandez’ Netherlands...",
  "key_points": [
    "Mexx Meerdink and Guus Til added to Netherlands squad as replacements.",
    "Til has eight caps, scored twice for PSV.",
    "Five Eredivisie players now in 26-man squad."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "BBC Sport",
        "title": "Republic of Ireland braced for testing Nations League",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/republic-of-ireland-braced-for-testing-nations-league",
        "published": "2026-09-21T06:36:17.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "How does the Nations League work and who is in each league?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/how-does-the-nations-league-work-and-who-is-in-each-league",
        "published": "2026-09-21T09:16:57.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "UEFA Nations League: Klopp, Zidane, Xavi, Mancini, four other new coaches to watch",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/uefa-nations-league-klopp-zidane-xavi-mancini-four-other-new-coaches",
        "published": "2026-09-21T11:02:40.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "New-look Netherlands will play with intensity in Nations League, says Xavi",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/new-look-netherlands-will-play-with-intensity-in-nations-league-says",
        "published": "2026-09-21T12:07:47.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}