Adrian Segecic has arrived at his first under-21s camp with Croatia and spoken in detail for the first time about his decision to change his international allegiance from Australia.
The Portsmouth attacking player revealed how former Bayern Munich winger, Ivica Olic, was the one who reached out and secured his commitment, and that for him, and his family, “the Croatian national team is a big deal”.
“We know what kind of success Croatia has had in major competitions. Croatia is a great football nation, and I would love to play for the senior national team one day,” he told Croatian outlet Slobodna Dalmacija.
“I’ve seen the comments and messages from Croatian fans, I’m glad they welcomed me so warmly.”
Segecic also revealed that Josip Simunic, who followed a similar pathway to him and is most infamous for being sent off in the 2006 World Cup clash between the Socceroos and Croatia, had provided counsel in his decision.
“The first person to call me was Ivica Olić, and he asked if I wanted to come and play for Croatia,” he revealed.
Adrian Segecic in his brief taste of Socceroos camp.
“The decision was mine, but I didn’t make it right away, I wanted to think about it. It wasn’t an easy decision.
“I also spoke with Joe Šimunić, as well as other players from Australia who were in a similar situation. Then I called Ivica back and told him my decision.”
Olic has also spoken this week in detail about how the move eventuated.
“We had some problems with injuries and non-playing in the national team, so we followed and looked at the list,” Olić said, quoted in Telesport.
“All possible players who play in Europe. My coach asked me what the situation was with him, I said, I don’t know. We’ll check. And so I got in touch with our director Pletikos, who told me that Segečić had been invited, but that he hadn’t played for the A national team.
“Basically, he told me there was a chance. Then Joe Šimunić helped us reach the parents, the father, who I called first and asked if there was a chance. In fact, the fact that I saw on WhatsApp that (his) dad had a Croatian flag gave me some hope.
“But he left for Australia a long time ago, but the man still follows him and comes every year. So, as far as that first conversation and my impression was concerned, it was OK, that there was a big chance, because dad wants his son to play for Croatia.
“At the end of the conversation, the father said that Adrian would decide on his own and that I should call him. I got his number and got in touch.”
He continued: “After that conversation, he told me he needed a few days off, considering that he was, let’s say, I won’t say a surefire, but likely candidate for the World Cup with Australia.”
Olic said that, once Segecic had made the decision, “he felt overjoyed”.
“He told me… that he could hardly wait to join the Croatian national team. Which, of course, was great news for all of us.”
Despite Croatia’s storied recent history in World Cups, and the rich depth they have in talent, they have celebrated Segecic’s arrival as a real coup.
“He speaks Croatian very well. We are a small country, big in football, but small in principle, so we need to fight and hope and rejoice in every player we get.”
Segecic’s decision has been a hot talking point in Australia with the first Socceroos squad selected since his decision.
Australia’s captain, Mat Ryan, was asked about the calls of both Segecic and Cristian Volpato (Italy) in opting not to represent the Socceroos – and what would happen if, one day due to not being capped by Croatia or Italy, they were to get a Socceroos call.
“I’m sure that they’re obviously trying to make what they feel is the best decision for them,” he said.
“Our focus (is) on what we’ve got in here and what we can do.
“If that’s the path that they choose to go down…then we just focus on the people that we do have in here and being the best team that we can be.”
He added: “It’s easy to make judgment calls based on what you perceive to be details or circumstances.
“Obviously we’re only kind of assuming what the circumstances are … I don’t know what is going on which has led these players to these decisions that they’re making.
“I don’t like to do hypotheticals for myself, because you never know in these situations until they kind of play out.
“I don’t like confrontation.
“So I respect that decision, and if you got to a point where a player like that would come in here, then accept them and just try to make the team as strong as possible.
“Players like Martin Boyle and all that in the past have been on the other side and then changed to obviously our legions. I guess it’s just part of the game and the way it goes.”