One of the Socceroos brightest prospects, Adrian Segecic, has submitted paperwork to switch allegiances to World No. 11 side Croatia.
Segacic, a former Sydney FC player, was hailed by Socceroos coach Tony Popovic just this week as a bright prospect for the future.
“Certainly these boys have potential to play for the Socceroos in the future,” Popovic said.
But the 21-year-old has been listed on FIFA’s Change of Association Platform as seeking permission to switch his allegiance to Croatia.
He has been called into a Socceroos camp three times but is yet to be given his official debut.
Socceroos great Robbie Slater said he could completly understand the move.
“It is dissappointing, we don’t want to lose him, we know he is still a young player and we want him for Australia,” Slater said.
“But he most 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.”
Segecic is currently played in the EFL Championship with Portsmouth.
He has netted five goals from 30 matches this season.
In the 2024/25 season with Sydney FC he scored 13 goals in 24 matches.
According to the FIFA platform Segecic lodged his paperwork on March 13 -very likely after missing selection in the Socceroos squad for the upcoming March window.
With the World Cup just months away Segecic is clearly hopeful of making the Croatian side instead.
While the Socceroos are primed to take on Cameroon and Curacao in the March window Croatia are locked in to play Colombia and Brazil.
The squads have not yet been announced and Segacic’s inclusion could depend on how long it takes FIFA to process his request.