Football analyst Rade Bogdanović has questioned Dušan Vlahović’s prolonged absence from the Serbia national team throughout 2026, suggesting the striker missed fixtures to protect his fitness for Beşiktaş rather than due to injury. Vlahović has not played for the national side since the World Cup in Qatar, missing eight separate international gatherings.
Rade Bogdanović Casts Doubt on Vlahović Absence Explanations
Dušan Vlahović has missed every fixture for the Serbia national football team throughout 2026. After sitting out friendlies in March and June, the forward informed head coach Veljko Paunović that he would be unavailable for four Nations League fixtures across September and October. While official explanations pointed to injury, former player and television analyst Rade Bogdanović publicly questioned those reasons during an appearance on the podcast Ozbiljno neozbiljni.
Bogdanović delivered a sharply sardonic assessment of the situation, joking about the striker’s physical status before outlining what he believes is the actual motivation behind the repeated withdrawals. In a comment delivered with a smile, the analyst quipped that the player was suffering from a latent pain in his testicles, a remark that criticized the increasing number of player absences.
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Rade Bogdanović said, I think, how should I put it, that Vlahović had a latent pain in the area of his testicles for these matches.
Club Priorities and the Beşiktaş Schedule
The analyst pointed to Vlahović’s recent club transfer and lack of a proper preseason as the root cause for his absence from national duty. Having arrived at Beşiktaş late in the summer transfer window after a prolonged injury layoff, the forward missed crucial conditioning work with his new club. Bogdanović noted that he believes the player was being logical in his attempt to avoid further injury risks.
What is the problem with Vlahović? Nobody told me, but I am thinking logically, that he wanted to prepare as well as possible so that he wouldn't get injured because he didn't go through the preseason. These four matches would have knocked his socks off. Rade
While expressing understanding for a player protecting his physical health after changing clubs, Bogdanović noted that communication with the Football Association of Serbia could have been handled more directly. He suggested the striker might have stated his position plainly rather than relying on recurring injury withdrawals, though he acknowledged that the ultimate decision regarding communication rests with the player and the governing body.
Strains in National Team Statistics and Upcoming Fixtures
The statistics show a deepening divide between the player and the national setup. Since the tournament in Qatar, Vlahović has missed eight international gatherings, mainly due to minor injuries or private matters. To date, the forward has recorded 41 appearances and 16 goals for the national team, a tally that could have increased had he participated in the recent Nations League matches, all of which Serbia lost. Bogdanović emphasized that despite the frustration surrounding these absences, the nation cannot afford to lose a talent of his standing.
Rade Bogdanović stated, Serbia is neither so big nor so rich that it can give up on Vlahović.
In contrast to his national team absence, Vlahović has returned to action in Turkey. Bogdanović reminded observers that when Vlahović has appeared for the country—citing performances dating back to the match against Albania—he has been honest and dedicated in his output.