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Dutch team fancied by many started with Van Nistelrooy, Robben and Van Persie upfront whilst Serbia began with Milosevic and Kezman up top.
Holland began as favourites early and looked to press a Serbian team who had only conceeded on goal in qualifying, they looked to spread the play with Robben being a constant threat down both the left and the right. His pace left the Serbs with a problem which was exposed on several occasions by the Chelsea star. He began confidently setting up a chance for Van Nistelrooy before making a breaking run only to be adjudged offside.
Minutes later, not put off by the linesmans previous flagging Robben chased onto a ball over the top from Van Persie and despite a tug on his shirt from a defender chasing back he cooly slotted the ball underneath the goalkeeper. The winger was congratulated by his team mates as Holland looked to seal three points in Group C to keep pace with Argentina.
Robben once more continued to be the danger man in the rest of the first half and almost made his personal tally two with a curling shot when cutting in from the left, the ball however went inches wide.
Shortly before half time the game began to change as Serbia brought on Ognjen Koroman who's freshness brought about a swing in posession and chances. Largely outnumbered by Dutch supporters the Serbians began making themselves heard as twice Milosevic and Kezman had shots on goal, the second chance falling to the Villa man was probably the best but his strike partners position in front of him did nothing to help his chances.
The second half began the way the first had ended with Serbia on the up, once more testing Van Der Saar, ex-Chelsea man Kezman fired in a shot from an angle which the Manchester United goalkeeper grabbed hold of second time around.
Bringing on 6ft 8in Nikola Zigic five minutes in the Serbs once more looked to press but despite his presence failed to ever really test the Dutch defense, infact despite large amounts of posession it was the Dutch who had the best chance with a Van Persie free kick being driven just past the post when it looked as if it just needed a touch from anyone to hit the back of the net.
A chance near the end from Predrag Djordjevic did little to trouble the cramp ridden Dutch goalkeeper who clung on as did Holland for the three points and a victory which sets them up to play the Ivory Coast in their next game.