'Better for Adrian that he's gone': Socceroos boss Tony Popovic's parting shot at Portsmouth forward Adrian Segečić following international switch
Socceroos boss Tony Popovic has spoken for the first time following Adrian Segečić’s decision to swap Australia of Croatia on the internation stage
Tony Popovic has defended his handling of Adrian Segečić in the wake of the player’s decision to change his international allegiance to Croatia.
The Socceroos boss said he had done everything within reason to show the Pompey attacking midfielder that his international future was with Australia.
But he stressed he would never pick a player for fear that they might decide to take their talents elsewhere.
With that in mind, Popovic said it was ‘probably better for Adrian that he’s gone’ as he continued his preparations for Australia’s appearance at this summer’s World Cup Finals.
Segečić decision follows Socceroos snub
Segečić, who was born and raised in Sydney and has represented the country of his birth at all age-group levels, made the decision to represent Croatia, where his grandparents originate from, earlier this month.
His switch comes after a maiden call-up to the Socceroos squad last September, and a trip Down Under that saw him sit out both games against New Zealand. The former Sydney FC forward was then snubbed for international fixtures in both October and November, despite an impressive start to life at Fratton Park.
The 21-year-old could kick-start his new international career next week, when Croatia’s under-21s take on Turkey in a 2027 Under-21 European Championships qualifier against Turkey on March 31.
That’s sure to create a lot of attention back in Australia, where fans are still coming to terms with his defection.
However. Popovic came across as someone who won’t be losing too much sleep over the matter.
Speaking ahead of the Socceroo’s forthcoming fmatches against Cameroon and Curacao, he said support had been shown to the young Blues forward throughout his career to date - and that should have been enough to demonstrate their commitment to him.
What Tony Popovic said about Adrian Segečić
‘We’ve always supported the players and he’s played for Australia at all the youth levels,’ said Popovic.
‘He was called into a Socceroos camp at 21. So I think we’ve done very well by the player and the player has decided to play for Croatia and we wish them all the best.
‘I think if you’re getting called up for Australia through the junior levels, then you get called up by the Socceroos: shouldn’t that be enough that you’re wanted?
‘Should I promise a player at 20 or 21 that he has to play? We’ve got young players in this squad now, do I promise them that they’re going to play? And if they don’t, I have to fear that he will leave?
‘It’s probably better for Adrian that he’s gone because I now haven’t restricted him from going maybe where he really wants to be.
‘So at 21, I don’t know, maybe times have changed and maybe I’m a bit… I know when I was 20 or 21, when I got called on the national team, if I didn’t play, all I thought about was, I love that environment. I want to play for Australia. And I’ll keep fighting and hope one day I get selected by the coach.
‘I wouldn’t walk out and say, “okay, make a phone call and say who else wants me”. Maybe that’s me a bit behind the times, but that’s what I mean by selling the shirt.
‘I don’t think we’ve done anything to not indicate to young players that you can play for Australia. You can see by the squad, you can see by the last squads that we’ve selected. So young players have a great opportunity with the Socceroos. That’s clear.
‘But I don’t know what else I’m supposed to do.
‘Any player that comes and says, “I don’t play, I’m out’” should I play that player? Even though maybe at that moment, whether it’s technically, tactically, or a player’s maybe ahead physically at that moment. So he shouldn’t play because someone’s told me he’ll leave?
‘That’s what I mean by selling the shirt. So I think we’ve always kept the door open. And I also respect the fact that the boy wants to play for Croatia. ‘
Adrian Segečić: why he opted for Croatia
Explaining the reasons behind his decision Segečić last week said: ‘It wasn’t easy to make this decision because I grew up in Australia, which I represented at youth levels, so I would like to express my gratitude to the coaches and team-mates with whom I shared the dressing room
‘However, my family is from Croatia and I feel a connection to the Croatian people. I felt the desire to represent Croatia as my homeland.
‘I thank the Croatian Football Federation for their dedication during this process – I clearly felt the desire from people in the Federation for me to become part of the Croatian football family.
‘I will continue to work hard to fulfil my football dream of playing for the senior Croatian national team.’