Dusan Tadic Ends International Retirement to Rejoin Serbia National Team
Dusan Tadic Returns to Serbian National Team After Two Years Away
Dusan Tadic, the former Southampton and Ajax forward, has confirmed his decision to return to the Serbia national team after a two-year break from international football. This announcement came shortly after his move to NEC Nijmegen and following a tough match against Juventus.
A Veteran Back in Action
The 37-year-old playmaker, who retired from international duty after Euro 2024, revealed that representing Serbia again felt like something he couldn't pass up. He is now Serbia's record appearance holder with 111 caps and plans to bring leadership and experience back to the squad. Tadic shared with Ziggo Sport that he feels proud and eager to help his country once more, and he expects to play soon in Serbia’s upcoming match against the Netherlands.
How the Comeback Came About
Tadic explained that the Serbian Football Association had been reaching out to him repeatedly since his retirement. His earlier stint in Saudi Arabia made it hard to join the national team due to travel distance and physical readiness. However, moving to NEC Nijmegen in the Eredivisie rekindled his ambition and fitness, making a return possible.
"When I stopped, the association called me several times to come back. At those times, I wasn’t physically ready yet. Playing in Saudi Arabia meant the distance was too great to travel constantly," Tadic said.
Reflection on Recent Club Performance
Despite his positive news, Tadic’s club side NEC Nijmegen recently suffered a heavy 5-0 loss to Juventus in Turin. He pointed out tactical mistakes and communication failures during the game, saying the team didn’t keep their defensive spaces tight and failed to support each other properly. The team’s poor choices when in possession also contributed to the defeat.
"We should have helped each other today to keep the spaces tight. We conceded goals too easily. Our communication wasn’t what it should have been," Tadic remarked.
Upcoming Challenges in the Nations League
Serbia will need Tadic’s influence right away, as they face a demanding Nations League schedule. They host Greece in Belgrade on September 24, then take on the Netherlands three days later. After these home games, Serbia travels to Munich for a match against Germany on October 1, before returning to the Netherlands to play in Eindhoven on October 4.
- September 24: Serbia vs Greece (Belgrade)
- September 27: Serbia vs Netherlands
- October 1: Germany vs Serbia (Munich)
- October 4: Netherlands vs Serbia (Eindhoven)
