Nemanja Vidic. Photo: CFP

Nemanja Vidic has quit the Serbian national team after their failure to qualify for the Euro 2012 finals in Poland and Ukraine, the Serbian Football Association (FSS) said Tuesday.

The FSS published a statement by the Manchester United defender, who said media and fan criticism over his recent performances for Serbia had persuaded him to hang up his international boots.

"The basic reason for my international retirement is that my commitment for the national team has been criticized by the media and therefore by the public as well for some time now," the FSS website quoted Vidic as saying.
 
"I've been under fire although I turned up to play for Serbia even when I was injured and sometimes I did so against the advice of my club."
 
His international retirement follows that of top Serbian player Dejan Stankovic but Vidic hopes the team can now thrive.

"I have come forward with this statement in order to root out any hearsay talk as to why I'm quitting the national team, to make sure they keep a good atmosphere ahead of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers," added the center back.
 
"I am also convinced the upcoming generation has the potential to give the nation plenty to cheer about and I will be with them wholeheartedly as a fan."

Vidic, who has scored two goals in 56 internationals, could not have ended his Serbia career on a more sour note after missing a penalty in a 1-0 defeat by Slovenia on October 11 which knocked Serbia out of contention for the finals. 

Having won the man of the match award on his debut, a 1-1 Euro 2004 qualifying draw against Italy in October 2002, Vidic became the backbone of the national team's defense.

However, he missed all three games in the 2006 World Cup when Serbia and Montenegro played as one country and lost all their matches. 

Vidic, who had joined Manchester United from Spartak Moscow in January that year, was suspended for Serbia and Montenegro's opening 1-0 defeat by Netherlands and injured his knee in practice ahead of the 6-0 drubbing by Argentina.

He was flown home to Belgrade before the final 3-2 defeat by Cote d'Ivoire. 

Vidic first came under fire after giving away a needless penalty in Serbia's 1-0 win over Germany in the 2010 World Cup and was then blamed for a crunch 2-1 defeat by Australia which knocked the Serbs out of the competition.
  
"The FSS wishes to thank Vidic for everything he has done for Serbian football...we respect his decision and we wish to underscore the national team's doors will be open for him if he chooses to return," the Serbian FA said.