Adrian Segecic says he is more motivated than ever to force his way into the Socceroos after his close encounter earlier this year, despite overtures from Croatia.
The 20-year-old midfielder had been called into the camp for the Soccer Ashes clash with New Zealand, but never made it onto the pitch. He was an unused substitute in the opening game and missed the matchday squad for the second, with Popovic telling him he “has got to keep working. He’s had a taste of the Socceroos now in camp, and he has to go back to his club and work like all the other players, keep performing well, and we’ll see for the next camp.”
An ankle injury suffered at Portsmouth cruelled his chance of a call up for the recent games in the United States. But he’s now close to a return.
“I would have loved to make my debut for the national team while I was there,” Segecic said in an interview with Simon Hill for football360.com.au.
“Obviously it’s not up to me to put myself on. It’s up to the coach to decide when the time’s right or when he thinks I deserve it.
“The only thing I can do is keep performing well at club level and get back in that camp and make my debut.”
Segecic confirmed there has been interest in him from Croatia, due to his family links.
“There’s obviously been contact since I moved over, playing in the Championship – it’s a massive league and there’s been contact with me going to play for them,” he said.
“But I’ve played for Australia since the age of 15. To go through every age group and play for the Socceroos, and go to a World Cup, that’s my dream. I wouldn’t have gone to the camp if I didn’t feel like it was right.”
Segecic says criticism of his decision to move to England has only driven him harder.
“I think a lot of people, when I first chose to come to England in the Championship all said, I don’t think it was the right decision, you’re small, the Championship’s so physical,” he said.
“For me I just wanted to prove a point and prove everyone wrong. If you’re a good footballer, no matter what league and where you’re playing, you can make yourself effective. I think I’ve been doing that and I look forward to continuing when I get back.”
The switch to Pompey has put Segecic into a system that suits him more naturally, after limited chances to play as a No.10 in the A-League.
“I feel like I’ve never really got to play at a professional level at that number 10 and have that freedom,” he said. “Speaking to Portsmouth, the gaffer and staff, the way they saw me in their system and how they thought they could get the best out of me, I thought was a prime example.
“When you have a few meetings and speak with people, you just know what feels right.”
Portsmouth have doubled down on tapping into Australian talent, signing Thomas Waddingham, Jacob Farrell and Hayden Matthews this year. But Segecic’s decision came down to football more than camaraderie.
“That was the biggest thing for me – feeling like I could express myself,” he said.
His introduction to the Championship was abrupt, and the differences from the A-League hit instantly.
“You’re playing every three days. The intensity, the physicality, the cold weather – it takes a different toll on your body,” he said.
Adrian Segecic at Portsmouth training.
“You need to build it up slowly. The club’s done really well for me. My injury wasn’t from overloading, just unlucky. I’ve been lucky with injuries and up until this point it’s all been really good.”
Segecic left Sydney FC on a free transfer, a decision he says was driven by timing rather than any dissatisfaction at Moore Park.
“Sydney did obviously try and keep me,” he said. “They were probably thinking they could get a bigger transfer. I think they would have loved to keep me for one more season, do as well as I did again and then make the World Cup squad.
“But for me, I was ready to go overseas and make the move. As much as Sydney tried, I thought it was time to go abroad and take a new challenge on.”
The Roarhttps://www.theroar.com.au/2025/11/21/its-up-to-the-coach-segecic-sends-socceroos-world-cup-message-amidst-croatia-interest/‘It’s up to the coach’: Segecic sends Socceroos World Cup message amidst Croatia interest
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