Socceroos Coach Defends Selection Policy Amidst Player Defections
Standing before the iconic Sydney Opera House, a venue synonymous with national pride and sporting achievement, Socceroos coach Tony Popovic faced a room of journalists, a mix of anticipation and inevitable tough questions hanging in the air. The initial announcements were promising, with potential debutants Ante Šuto, Lucas Herrington, and Deni Juric named, sparking excitement about the fresh talent ready to don the green and gold.
However, the press conference soon turned to a more contentious issue: the decision of young talent Adrian Segecic to switch his international allegiance to Croatia, a move that occurred mere months before a crucial World Cup campaign. Popovic, initially measured, acknowledged the player’s choice with a degree of respect. Yet, his demeanour soon hardened as he passionately defended Football Australia’s and the coaching staff’s commitment to nurturing players.
“He’s played for Australia at all the youth levels,” Popovic stated firmly. “He was called into a Socceroos camp at 21, so I think we’ve done very well by the player, and the player’s decided to play for Croatia, and we wish him all the best.” Segecic’s previous call-up to the Australian squad last year, without making an appearance, highlighted a recurring theme under Popovic’s tenure: the selection of new players who, for various reasons, do not immediately feature on the pitch.
This approach has seen players like Nectarios Triantis, who ultimately represented Greece, and Manchester United youngster James Overy, now capped by England, opt for other nations. Popovic has consistently maintained a stance against “selling the jersey,” a principle that has faced scrutiny, particularly after a meeting with Italy-aligned Cristian Volpato.
Popovic clarified that Volpato had expressed an interest in playing for Australia, and the discussion was purely about the pathway for such representation. Volpato’s eligibility to play for Australia remains unchanged. In contrast, Segecic’s statement regarding his move to Croatia was unequivocal: “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.”
When the sensitive topic of “selling the shirt” resurfaced during the press conference, Popovic’s steely resolve returned. He launched into a fervent defence of his selection philosophy, particularly in relation to Segecic’s situation. “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?” he questioned. “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 him that they’re going to play? If they don’t, I have to fear that he’ll leave?”
He continued, “It’s probably better for Adrian that he’s gone because now I haven’t restricted him from going where he wants to be. Maybe times have changed. But 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, ‘OK, 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 make a phone call and say, who else wants me? Maybe that’s me being a bit behind the times.”
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Popovic emphasized that the Socceroos have consistently shown young players that opportunities exist. “You can see by this squad, you can see by the last squads that we’ve selected… young players have a great opportunity with the Socceroos, that’s clear. But I don’t know what else I’m supposed to do?” he asked rhetorically. “Any player that comes and says, if 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 [different] player’s maybe ahead physically at that moment – so he shouldn’t play because someone’s told me he’ll leave? I think we’ve always kept the door open and I respect the fact the boy wants to play for Croatia.”
Interestingly, the Socceroos squad also featured Alex Robertson, a player who navigated his own complex eligibility journey, with English, Scottish, and Peruvian heritage.
Robertson had previously represented the Socceroos in friendlies in 2023, meaning he was not yet formally tied to Australia. After those matches, his international future remained uncertain until his selection under Popovic last year. While he didn’t play during that camp, it was attributed to his physical condition and lack of match minutes. However, Popovic had noted Robertson’s strong desire to be part of the squad. The 22-year-old has since been a regular for Cardiff in League One. Popovic expressed his keenness to assess Robertson’s development since October.
Born in Scotland but raised in Australia, Robertson’s situation is emblematic of the delicate balancing act Popovic, and his predecessor Graham Arnold, have faced with dual-eligible players. The Socceroos have a history of players born overseas representing the nation, including Harry Souttar, Martin Boyle, Nestory Irankunda, Cameron Burgess, Awer Mabil, Miloš Degenek, and Fran Karacic, who were all capped before Popovic’s arrival. This presents a stark contrast to Segecic’s situation.
Popovic has also called up Ante Šuto, who, like Souttar, Boyle, and Karacic, had not previously set foot in Australia before being selected for the national team. Alessandro Circati, born in Italy but who moved to Australia at a young age, has famously expressed his profound pride in representing his adopted nation, a sentiment he shared with tears under Popovic’s guidance.
However, for every Circati, there are players like Volpato, Triantis, and Segecic, who are yet to fully commit their international futures to Australia, maintaining strong ties to their other heritage. Triantis has now permanently switched allegiance, while Volpato and Segecic remain possibilities, though the latter’s immediate path lies with Croatia.
This presents a significant challenge for Popovic. His unwavering stance on not compromising the integrity of the jersey is commendable and resonates with national pride. Yet, the question lingers: is this principled approach inadvertently costing the Socceroos potential stars? In an era influenced by agents and club preferences, some situations are undoubtedly beyond the coach’s direct control, with clubs often preferring players to remain closer to Europe to manage playing time and avoid extensive travel.
For Segecic, the door to the Socceroos may remain ajar, but significant effort would be required to bridge the gap with Popovic. “He’s made a decision… you never know what will happen in the future, I wouldn’t rule anything in or out,” Popovic concluded. “I hope he does well for Croatia and if that’s where he really wants to play, that’s what country he wants to represent and if he gets into that squad, then good luck to him.”
