Belgium and the Netherlands split the spoils in the latest installment of the Low Countries derby on Tuesday, playing out a 1-1 draw in Brussels. Dries Mertens and Arnaut Groeneveld got the goals.

The Red Devils were the better side for most of the match but lacked heir usual efficiency in front of goal. They almost paid dearly for their inefficiency, as Memphis Depay hit the post and the visitors had their fair share of chances.

Mertens gave Belgium an early lead but a mistake from Timothy Castagne led to the equaliser before half-time.

The two sides have drawn six of their last eight meetings. The Netherlands haven't beaten their rivals since 1997.

Belgium Deserve No. 1 FIFA Ranking

Just months after losing to France in the World Cup semi-final, the Red Devils tied Les Bleus at the top of the FIFA rankings, which left some fans of the champions frustrated at the way these rankings work.

It's hard to deny the Belgians deserve the spot, however, as they've been their usual dominant self since the tournament with some impressive wins. Their finishing was uncharacteristically off against the Dutch, but if they had been on point, they could easily have scored three or four.

As noted by bet365, the side has tremendous attacking options:

But it's not just in attack where their depth shines. Jason Denayer, Simon Mignolet, Castagne and Dedryck Boyata all got the start on Tuesday as the Red Devils didn't play their best XI, and they still had the upper hand against a team that just rocked Germany 3-0 in their last match.

The Red Devils were one or two lucky bounces away from a spot in the World Cup final and have only impressed since. There are many things wrong with the FIFA rankings, but their spot at the top is not one of them.

Netherlands Desperately Need the Experience of Van Dijk

Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk returned to Anfield after the win over Germany with an injury and his absence was keenly felt against the Red Devils, especially in the first half.

The Dutch had all kinds of trouble with the movement of Eden Hazard and Mertens, and it took a comical miss from Romelu Lukaku to avoid a 2-0 hole. Mathijs de Ligt held his own against the Manchester United man, but he clearly missed his more experienced partner in defence.

Centre-back was an area of concern for the side for years, but there's a lot more talent to pick from for Ronald Koeman at the moment. 

But as good as Stefan de Vrij is, he's no Van Dijk. He could make an excellent No. 2 in support of the former Celtic man while De Ligt continues his development, but his experience alone isn't enough to replace Van Dijk's sheer quality.

The Low Countries derby is Better than Ever

Tuesday's clash may have been an international friendly, but the many incidents and cards at the end of the contest showed that even with nothing at stake, the Low Countries derby matters to these players.

It's one of the oldest rivalries in international football but has long been a one-sided affair. For years the Dutch were among the elites of European football, looking down on their neighbours to the south, and when the Belgians finally became great themselves it coincided with the decline of Oranje.

But the Netherlands have tons of young talent ready to step up, including De Ligt, Frenkie de Jong and Depay. Their win over Germany and performance in Brussels shows the Dutch are on their way back, while Belgium's Golden Generation is still in its prime. The Red Devils also have a few top prospects like Youri Tielemans and Landry Dimata in the pipelines.

It looks like the Low Countries derby could be a very competitive affair in the coming years, a welcome change.

What's Next?

Club football returns after the international break. Belgium's next outing will be on November 15 against Iceland in the UEFA Nations League, while the Netherlands face France a day later.