Dusan Tadic Ends Two-Year Hiatus to Rejoin Serbia National Team

After stepping away from international football following Euro 2024, Dusan Tadic has announced his decision to rejoin the Serbia national team. The 37-year-old, who recently moved to NEC Nijmegen, revealed his comeback plans shortly after NEC's tough 5-0 loss to Juventus.

A Veteran Back in Action

Tadic holds the record for the most appearances for Serbia, having earned 111 caps. His return brings an experienced leader back to the squad at a critical time. Speaking to Ziggo Sport, he explained his motivations, saying, "I want to help my country again. I feel the need to enjoy playing for the nation. It always fills me with pride. You'll see me in the match against the Netherlands soon."

Return Fueled by European Football and Federation Calls

The Serbian Football Association maintained contact with Tadic throughout his retirement, encouraging him to come back. His move from Saudi Arabia to the Eredivisie side NEC Nijmegen made the return feasible, as the travel distance had been a major obstacle before. Tadic noted, "When I stopped, the association called several times. At that time, I wasn’t physically ready. Playing in Saudi Arabia made traveling back and forth too difficult." Now, being active in Europe has reignited both his fitness and ambition.

NEC's Struggles Highlight Tactical Issues

NEC's recent 5-0 defeat to Juventus exposed serious defensive shortcomings. Tadic openly criticized the team's lack of coordination and poor communication. "We should have supported each other more to keep spaces tight," he said. "We conceded goals too easily, which was unnecessary. Our communication wasn't up to par. Against a team like Juventus, those mistakes cost us heavily. Even when we had the ball, we often made wrong choices."

Upcoming Nations League Challenges

Tadic's return coincides with a demanding Nations League schedule. Serbia faces four tough matches in quick succession:

• September 24: Serbia vs Greece in Belgrade
• September 27: Serbia vs Netherlands
• October 1: Germany vs Serbia in Munich
• October 4: Netherlands vs Serbia in Eindhoven

There is no room for slow adaptation as the team gears up to face strong opponents on home soil and away.