'I am not good enough for the Netherlands national team'

Mexx Meerdink does not believe he deserves a place in the Netherlands squad. The AZ striker said this to De Telegraaf, shortly after Sunday's 1-0 win over Telstar.

Head coach Xavi did not include Meerdink in his initial squad. But after Justin Kluivert and Donyell Malen dropped out, an invitation still arrived at the Meerdink household.

"I was in the preliminary squad, but what I have shown in the past period was simply not enough," said the self-critical Meerdink, who reported to the Netherlands on Monday.

"The Netherlands are a huge stage and it is my goal to be there, but I have not earned it now," continued the matchwinner against Telstar. "It just has to be better, I know that myself as well. Of course it is a shame, but I can deal with it."

"I scored the winner, yes, but football-wise it still was not top. Not yet the free Mexx I was a year ago. Maybe that is unconsciously the tension of 'everything has to be right'," analysed Meerdink, who had already been thinking about a short holiday during the international break.

"Lovely, a little week off. Maybe at a good time, because a busy period is coming after the internationals. So I am getting away for a bit," concluded the AZ player.

Hours later, everything changed. Kluivert and Malen pulled out, which meant Xavi still called up Meerdink. The AZ striker earned his first Netherlands call-up in October last year, but an injury then put a spanner in the works.