Dusan Tadic would find it ‘strange’ to play against the Dutch national team at the World Cup, he says in an interview with The Telegraph. Last Sunday, the captain of Ajax qualified with Serbia thanks to a 1-2 victory over Portugal for the tournament that will be completed in Qatar in a year’s time. Tadic prefers to settle with other countries at the World Cup.
“I did not see the match and I was still in Serbia. I am very happy for the the Dutch that they have won 2-0 against Norway and are going to the World Cup just like Serbia. Great for Daley (Blind), Davy (Klaassen), Ryan (Gravenberch), Devyne (Rensch) and my other Dutch former teammates. The Dutch national team belongs to the World Cup, as well as Serbia,” says Tadic about the World Cup qualifier against Norway won 2-0 by the the Dutch. He is asked whether it would be nice to meet the Dutch national team at the World Cup.
“Honestly, it would be very strange for me. I love the Netherlands and would like to play against the Dutch one day, because I have never been able to experience that. But having to eliminate each other at the World Cup… I have many friends who play in the Dutch. I’d rather beat other big countries in Qatar,” says Tadic. The attacker – with a goal and an assist of great value in Portugal – speaks highly of Serbian national coach Dragan Stojkovic, in his words ‘someone who has turned things around and let the Serbs play football according to his vision and our qualities’.
“He adheres to the Dutch football philosophy and wants us to play offensive, attractive, creative football and be dominant on the ball. That fits very well with this group of players,” says Tadic. The placement for the World Cup gave the players of Serbia an extra premium of one million euros, President Aleksandar Vucic promised before the trip to Portugal. “Haha, yes, that was for the whole team, not just me. We received a premium for placement, but we gave a large part of the president’s gift to charities.”