Nenad Krstic is ready to return to international basketball to play for Serbia at EuroBasket 2007.

The New Jersey Nets center, one of the most promising young Serbian players, turned down the chance to play for Serbia & Montenegro at the FIBA World Championship this summer, but has now committed to playing next year if called.

Sporting a young team, Serbia & Montenegro - competing as one for the final time after Montenegro claimed independence this summer - struggled in Japan and could not defend their world title, going out in the first knock-out round before Spain clinched gold.

		“	If the head coach of our national team calls me for EuroBasket 2007, I will be the first guy at training for the competition	„
		Nenad Krstic

But Krstic was not part of that team, having declined a call from coach Dragan Sakota, and ignoring a personal request from Serbian president Boris Tadic. 

"I needed a break," he said in Serbian newspaper Sportski Zurnal.

"The forthcoming NBA season is crucial for my new contract and I really needed this summer to get over some minor injuries and to prepare for the Nets' challenges in the championship.

"I have had many bad experiences since my decision to skip the World Championship, but now all of that is behind me. I don't want to talk about it anymore."

Krstic continued: "If the head coach of our national team calls me for EuroBasket 2007, I will be the first guy at training for the competition.

"We have our own new state, we have a Serbian anthem, a new flag. I'llaccept the call with pleasure."

Although not in Japan, Krstic saw Serbia & Montenegro's games and was encouraged by what he saw despite the disappointing result.

"We couldn't do anything against Spain," he said, referring to their 87-75 defeat in the knock-out stages.

"But if we had defeated Nigeria at the start of the tournament, we would have had an easier schedule in the later rounds.

"Still, many of the players were playing for the national team for the first time so we have begun to create a new platform for the future.

"All of my friends told me there was a great atmosphere during preparation and the tournament, and that's one of the reasons we can be satisfied with how everything has started."

Krstic is now preparing to join up with his New Jersey Nets team-mates at training camp, and will see one familiar face among the incoming rookies with the arrival of Serbia international Mile Ilic, a draft pick of the Nets last year.

"I'm glad Mile will be there," he said. "Club management have succeeded in keeping all of the starting five, and with Ilic they've brought in four more rookies.

"I think the Nets will be stronger this season than in previous years."