Ludovit Reis has been called up by the Slovakia national team. The Werder Bremen midfielder received his first senior international nomination on Wednesday, finally committing to the country of his family heritage.
Reis, born in Haarlem near Amsterdam and holding both Dutch and Slovak passports, had long deliberated between the two associations. He previously played nine matches for the Netherlands U19s and 17 for the U21s. The decision has now been made in favour of Slovakia. National team coach Vladimir Weiss had been monitoring the 26-year-old. "We already knew him, an invitation was enough," Weiss said. "He expressed his willingness to play for us.
It marks a significant personal milestone for the Werder professional. Reis had previously emphasised his open stance. "I am open to both sides. I will not close myself off to Slovakia and also not to the Dutch national team," he said. "If I play well and win matches with Werder week after week, then what comes will come." His strong performances in the current Bundesliga season have now made this call-up possible. Werder Bremen sit fifth in the standings with 15 points from eight games and recently beat Hoffenheim 2-0. The team is just three points off the top of the table. They have scored 17 goals this season, with Niclas Füllkrug their top scorer on nine.
The team's recent form of two wins, two draws, and one loss from the last five outings was key. This run includes the 2-0 home win over Hoffenheim on October 31, a 3-2 away defeat to Dortmund, and a 3-2 victory in Mainz. Reis is expected to feature in Slovakia's upcoming Nations League matches against the Faroe Islands on November 13 and Kazakhstan on November 16. For Werder Bremen, the next fixture is an away match against 11th-placed VfB Stuttgart on November 7. It is the final competitive game before the international break. Ole Werner's team aims to continue its recent positive form. After the break, the Northern Derby against Hamburger SV awaits on November 22. Reis's call-up highlights Werder's effective squad building and could boost the club's international profile. His next appearance for SV Werder is scheduled for Saturday in Stuttgart.
This story first appeared at deichstube.de
