Portsmouth favourite Adrian Segečić's decision to turn back on Socceroos set to pay off
In-form Pompey forward Adrian Segečić could well be playing in this year’s World Cup for Croatia
Adrian Segečić is playing is way into Croatia boss Zlatko Dalić’s thoughts ahead of the World Cup.
The Pompey forward, who signed off his maiden Fratton Park season with a goal in the Blues’ 1-1 draw with Birmingham City on Saturday, is making a big impression on the Vatreni manager, with the start of the tournament just six weeks away.
And with the in-form 21-year-old offering something different attacking-wise to what’s currently on offer to Dalic ahead of their World Cup Group L opener against England on June 17, he could well find himself on the plane to North America, just weeks after switching his international allegiance from the country of his birth, Australia.
What Zlatko Dalić has said about Adrian Segečić
Segečić, who finished the 2025-26 Championship campaign as Pompey’s 11-goal top scorer, changed loyalties ahead of the international schedule in March and lined up for Croatia’s under-21s for their Uefa Euro under-21 qualifier against Turkey.
Ivica Olić’s side won that game 3-0, with the Pompey forward registering an assist and making an instant impact on his international debut for the Kockasti.
Since then, Segečić has scored six goals in five games for the Blues, and registered three assists, as John Mousinho’s side saw off the threat of relegation to secure their place in next season’s Championship.
That has brought him to the attention of many clubs higher up the footballing pyramid than Pompey. But it has also alerted Dalić, who was already impressed with the winger/attacking midfielder during his link-up with Olić & Co.
Speaking to Croatian sports daily newspaper, Sportske novosti, Dalić said: ‘I am delighted with Segečić. Not just me, the whole staff.
‘When we saw him at the first real training session of the young national team, after three minutes Niko Kranjčar and I said: "He must be playing!"
‘Segečić is a player for the A national team. It is different from all the ones we have.’
Adrian ‘Segečić - a player Croatia ‘are crying out for’
Writing for Sportske novosti, journalist Drazen Antolic said Dalić is often reluctant to throw new players in at the deep end.
Yet he said Segečić is a player this current Croatia team is currently ‘crying out for’.
He wrote: ‘The quality with which he has charmed experts in the young line-up, and the most notable are his speed and dribbling on the move, his great ball control and shooting technique, agility and dexterity.
‘In other words everything that Vatreni are crying out for and missing so much because that profile is lacking in our country, and he can play as a winger, especially on the right, and as a number ten, giving him a strong tailwind to immediately get on the selector’s radar.
‘There will be more than 20 days until the Vatreni gather, and the Championship is ending. That is why we are not sure that the selector will write his name down, but if that happens, he could be a refreshment and a weapon that the opponents are not prepared for. ‘
‘Segečić - I know I can do it
Croatia, who also play Panana (June 24) and Ghana (June 27) in World Cup Group L, take on both Belgium (June 2) and Slovenia (June 7) at home before flying to the USA for that group opener against England in Arlington, Dallas.
There’s a very good chance Segečić could be invited to feature in those games and to make it difficult for Dalić to leave him out of his 26-man squad.
Speaking to The News last month, the Pompey favourite said he believed he could feature for Croatia at this year’s Word Cup.
He said: ‘Even when I first went to Croatia I was immediately looking at the senior team.
‘No matter what position I’m in I’m always going to push myself.
‘I said months and months ago when people said I won’t get near the side I felt I could push for it. I can now start saying to people I can do it - and I back myself to do it.
‘I’ve shown I can do it at times this season, I believe in myself and I know I can do it’.
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