It’s been a roller-coaster week for Australian football, with one of the nation’s brightest young talents closing the Socceroos door at the same time as others have been handed a chance to walk through it.
Much of the build-up to Tony Popovic’s squad announcement ahead of the FIFA Series™ tussle with Cameroon and Curaçao was dominated by the decision of 21-year-old forward Adrian Segecic to switch allegiance to Croatia.
Addressing that issue, Popovic was firm in his belief that he wouldn’t stand in the way of players that didn’t want to be part of the set-up, including Australia-born and raised youth international Segecic, who has impressed this season with English Championship side Portsmouth.
He said: “If you’re getting called up for Australia through the junior levels and then get called up by the Socceroos, shouldn’t that be enough to show that you’re wanted? Should I promise a player at 20 or 21 that they will play, and if I don’t then I have to fear that they will leave?
“Maybe times have changed but I know that when I was 20 or 21 and I got called by the national team and didn’t play, all I thought about was that I love that environment, and I want to play for Australia and I’ll keep fighting and hope one day that I get selected by the coach.”
As the Segecic door now seemingly closes, it’s firmly ajar for the uncapped trio of defender Lucas Herrington and forwards Ante Suto and Deni Juric.
Eighteen-year-old centre back Herrington has caught the eye in his first couple of months with MLS side Colorado Rapids, while 28-year-old Poland-based striker Juric is aiming to follow in the footsteps of older brother Tomi and become a Socceroos regular.
Croatia-born forward Suto, 25, is eligible to play for the nation through his father and, in a twist on the Segecic saga, Popovic said the Hibernian forward, who has never been to Australia, jumped at the opportunity.
“[His desire to play for Australia] is extremely strong, and he’s backed that up with how he’s played,” said the coach. “If he hadn’t settled the way he has at Hibs, we probably wouldn’t have called him. He’s in due to what he’s showing on the field, he’s scoring regularly, albeit he’s coming off the bench but he started the other day.
“He’s showing a desire to play for Australia and his performances have shown he deserves to be here.”
Captain Jackson Irvine has recently returned from an injury lay-off and was allowed to remain in Europe to build his fitness, along with Leicester City defender Harry Souttar. However, Alessandro Circati and Jordan Bos are back from injury, while Awer Mabil and Ajdin Hrustic also returned to the international fray.
This is Popovic’s final chance to assess his options before he names the squad set to head to the FIFA World Cup™, where the Socceroos will face co-hosts USA, Paraguay and a yet-to-be-determined UEFA qualifier.
Goalkeepers
Patrick Beach (Melbourne City)
Paul Izzo (Randers)
Mathew Ryan (Levante)
Defenders
Aziz Behich (Melbourne City)
Jordan Bos (Feyenoord)
Cameron Burgess (Swansea City)
Alessandro Circati (Parma)
Milos Degenek (APOEL)
Jason Geria (Albirex Niigata)
Lucas Herrington (Colorado Rapids)
Jacob Italiano (Grazer AK)
Fran Karacic (Osijek)
Kai Trewin (New York City)
Midfielders
Ajdin Hrustic (Heracles Almelo)
Riley McGree (Middlesbrough)
Connor Metcalfe (FC St. Pauli)
Paul Okon-Engstler (Sydney FC)
Aiden O’Neill (New York City)
Alexander Robertson (Cardiff City)
Patrick Yazbek (Nashville SC)
Forwards
Martin Boyle (Hibernian)
Nestory Irankunda (Watford)
Deni Juric (Wisla Plock)
Awer Mabil (Castellon)
Ante Suto (Hibernian)
Nishan Velupillay (Melbourne Victory)
