Matic calls time on international career with Serbia

Nemanja Matic has made the decision against representing Serbia any further with the intention of making way for younger players.

Nemanja Matic made his debut for the Serbian national senior team on 14 December 2008 in a friendly against Poland.

The Manchester United midfielder earned his call-up after impressing with the Serbia U-21 team, scoring two goals in three matches for them.

His first goal for the senior team was a thing of beauty as he leveled the scoreline with an impressive overhead kick in a Euro 2016 qualifying match against Portugal.

After earning 48 caps, the 32-year old feels that his time has come to step aside as he recently decided to retire from international duty.

“Other than saying it was time for younger players to take over, Matic did not state any other specific reasons for quitting,” FSS sports director Vladimir Matijasevic explained Matic’s decision, as per Sky Sports.

“We respect his decision. He is 32 years old and he’s had an exerting club season. European club football is demanding and hence we are aware that we’ll have to inject fresh blood into the national team.

“We’ve got several players who are over the hill and we realize that some of them may call time on their international careers in the next year or two.”

Serbia will have to make do without Matic when they take on Norway in a playoff semi-final on October 8. A victory would then pair them against either Scotland or Israel to fight for a place in the rescheduled Euro 2020.