There was only one number 10 on everybody’s lips in the aftermath of Monday’s 3-3 insta-classic between Serbia and Cameroon at the Qatar World Cup, and it wasn’t Dusan Tadic.
Vincent Aboubakar made his fair share of headlines pre-tournament when he claimed – bullishly and, some argued, deludedly – that anything Mo Salah could do, he could do too.
Now, Aboubakar’s 35 minute cameo at the Al Janoub Stadium – a clever assist following that ingenious lob – is unlikely to have Jurgen Klopp begging FSG for a Saudi Arabian-based, 30-year-old centre-forward in the build up to Christmas.
But it certainly added a pound of flesh to the bones of Aboubakar’s argument. Maybe he had a point after all. Maybe this is a genuinely elite-level centre-forward who just hasn’t had the kind of opportunities he deserved.
The kind opportunities that came Tadic’s way, for instance. At the age of 34, the evergreen playmaker is still a regular in the Champions League with Ajax. He’s already proven himself in England’s top-flight at Southampton. He could have stayed in the UK too. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp would have jumped at the chance to bring Tadic to Anfield during the summer of 2018.
‘I was very angry with myself when he went to Ajax,” Klopp said recently. “Because I was also interested in him. I love him as a player.”
Jurgen Klopp wanted Ajax and Serbia ace Dusan Tadic at Liverpool
Four years on, 12 months from his 35th birthday, rumours of Tadic’s demise appear to have been greatly exaggerated. If Klopp ‘loves him as a player’ then so, with some justification, does Serbia coach Dragan Stojkovic.
Despite his somewhat underwhelming displays at club level this season, there was never any suggestion that Tadic’s place in the Serbia XI would come under threat in Qatar.
And, assisting one goal while setting up countless other opportunities during Monday’s six goal thriller in Group H, Tadic repaid Stojkovic’s faith with one of the most captivating performances from any attacking midfielder during the Qatar World Cup so far, even if his role in a thrilling encounter may be overshadowed by Aboubakar’s brilliance at the other end.
No one on the pitch managed more than Tadic’s four key passes (WhoScored). The former St Mary’s favourite showed the other side of his game in the build up to Serbia’s magical third goal too; snatching back possession while pressing high up the pitch.
And if Aleksandr Mitrovic had not left his shooting boots back in the team hotel, Tadic might have ended the game with maybe even a hat-trick of assists under his belt.
“I am happy with our offensive game and the chances created,” the Serbia captain tells Mondo at full-time. “We could have scored many more goals. We hope that he (the goals) come when they are most needed.
“It was literally a rollercoaster. They take the lead, we turn it around, we have everything under control. We lead 3-1 and we just scored two incredible goals. But we have to keep our heads up. Be positive. There were a lot of good things, and of course also things that we can fix.
“When we need a victory, we can achieve it and show character. We have to be positive and believe.”
Like Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski and Cristiano Ronaldo and co, this could be Tadic’s final World Cup. At least he’s bowing out in style.
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