Portsmouth favourite Adrian Segečić turns his back on Socceroos by declaring he wants to play for Croatia

Adrian Segečić has made the decision to switch his international allegiance away from the country of his birth, Australia.

In a move that has caused disappointment Down Under, the Pompey forward has submitted paperwork to FIFA so that he can represent Croatia on the world stage moving forward.

Football’s governinng body confirmed the move on it’s Change of Association Platform on Friday, March 13, which will allow the highly-rated 21-year-old to play for the country his grandparents originate from.

Born in Sydney, Segečić has played for the Socceroos at all age-group levels from the under-15s to the under-23 set-up. He was also called up on three separate occasions to Tony Popovic’s senior ranks last year but failed to make his debut.

Since making the move to Pompey from Sydney FC, the attacking midfielder has made a signficant impact at Fratton Park. He’s scored six games in 31 appearances for John Mousinho’s Championship side and remains the club’s top scorer. Segečić has also been involved in 21 of the Blues’ past 23 games, either as a start or a sub, after suffering an ankle injury in October.

His gaffe, however, led to Hull claiming a 1-0 win at Fratton Park last month - a defeat that has contributed to the Blues battling for their Championship survival again.

Nevertheless, a Socceroos call-up for their March internationals against Cameroon and Curacao was anticipated, while a place in Popovic’s squad for this summer’s World Cup Final would surely have a real possibility for the Fratton favourite.

However, neither will be on the agenda now following Segečić’s decision to switch his allegiance to the European heavyweights who will also feature at the World Cup in Mexico, USA and Canada in three months.

Like Australia, they too have fixtures to fulfil in March, with games against Columia and Brazil coming up. Croatia boss Zlatko Dalić is yet to announce his squad for those games. Popovic’s latest Socceroos squad is also yet to be confirmed, with Pompey defender Hayden Matthews holding out hope that he can earn a recall.

Croatia contact made

Segečić has previously spoken about representing Croatia on the international stage. He confirmed in November that contact had been made regarding a potential switch in allegiance. Yet playing for Australia back then was his priority.

He said: ‘There’s obviously been contact since I moved over, playing in the Championship – it’s a massive league and there’s obviously been contact with me going to play for them

“’But like I said, I’ve played for Australia since the age of 15, so to be able to go through every single age group and play for the Socceroos and go to a World Cup, I wouldn’t have went to the camp if I didn’t feel like it was right.

‘I definitely feel if I can make that World Cup squad and play for Australia, I think it’d make more sense.

‘Obviously I’ve lived in Australia my whole life, would still be nice to play for Croatia, but I feel like if I did pick Australia and to go there and play the World Cup I think would be a dream.’

Segečić must not be feeling a lot of love

Speacking to The Ausralian, ex-Socceroos player Robbie Slater said Segečić musn’t be feeling the love from Popovic.

‘It is dissappointing, we don’t want to lose him, we know he is still a young player and we want him for Australia.

‘But he must not be feeling a lot of love. You would dare say that Croatia have been in contact with him for him to do that.

‘It is a big move. But I understand that every players wants to go to a World Cup so I can’t blame him for that.

‘He has to make his own decisions and be comfortable with it.’

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