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

Dusan Tadic Returns to Serbia's National Squad After Two Years Away

Dusan Tadic, once a forward for Southampton, has officially announced his comeback to the Serbian national team following a two-year international retirement. The experienced playmaker shared this update after NEC Nijmegen’s recent match against Juventus, expressing a strong desire to represent Serbia again now that he has returned to European football.

A Veteran’s Return to International Duty

The Serbian team is about to see the return of one of its most seasoned players. At 37 years old, Tadic had stepped away from international football after Euro 2024 but now feels compelled to don the national jersey once more. His announcement came soon after NEC’s heavy 5-0 loss to Juventus, turning attention from club struggles to a significant boost for Serbia’s squad. Holding the record for the most appearances with 111 caps, Tadic is expected to bring leadership and experience immediately.

"Now I want to help my country again. I feel the need to enjoy playing for the nation again. It always gives a sense of pride. You will soon see me playing in the match against the Netherlands," Tadic told Ziggo Sport.

The Journey Back Fueled by Europe and Federation’s Calls

Tadic's decision was influenced heavily by his move back to European football with NEC Nijmegen and persistent efforts by the Serbian Football Association. They maintained contact since his initial retirement. His previous time in Saudi Arabia made frequent travel impractical, delaying any earlier returns. Playing regularly in the Eredivisie has revitalized both his fitness and motivation.

"When I had stopped, the association called me several times to come back. At those times, I wasn’t physically ready for it yet. When I was playing there (Saudi Arabia), the distance was too great to travel back and forth constantly," he said.

NEC’s Struggles Highlight Tactical Weaknesses

The recent 5-0 defeat against Juventus exposed serious tactical issues within NEC Nijmegen. Tadic openly criticized the defensive lapses and poor communication that allowed Juventus to score easily. He pointed out that the team failed to keep the playing spaces compact and did not support each other effectively.

"We should have helped each other today to keep the spaces tight. In the end, we just conceded goals too easily today. It wasn’t necessary. Our communication wasn’t what it should have been. When these things go wrong against a team like Juventus, you have a tough evening. When we had the ball, we often didn’t make good choices," Tadic explained.

Upcoming Challenges in the UEFA Nations League

Tadic's return comes at a critical moment as Serbia prepares for a demanding Nations League schedule. The team must quickly integrate him as they face four tough fixtures in a short span. Serbia will host Greece in Belgrade on September 24 and then face the Netherlands on September 27. Following these home games, they travel to Munich to play Germany on October 1, and then visit Eindhoven to take on the Netherlands again on October 4.

• September 24, 2026: Serbia vs Greece (Belgrade)
• September 27, 2026: Serbia vs Netherlands (Belgrade)
• October 1, 2026: Germany vs Serbia (Munich)
• October 4, 2026: Netherlands vs Serbia (Eindhoven)