Portsmouth boss John Mousinho has weighed in on Adrian Segecic’s decision to change his international allegiance from Australia to Croatia.
The 21-year-old forward has scored six goals in 34 matches in all competitions for Pompey this season since joining from Sydney FC in July.
Mousinho has revealed the reasons he believes Segecic has decided to go with the Vatreni over the Socceroos.
“I had the conversation with him, I’m there as his head coach and it’s something Segs thought long and hard about. It’s going to be an interesting opportunity for him this international break,” Mousinho told The News.
“However, what I do know is that, over the past three international breaks, he was called up once for Australia at a time when I thought he was probably in his best form of the season.
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“And, when he did go away with Australia, he didn’t feature and was sat in the stands for both of the games. I think that has played a part.
“‘Segs ran a few things by me, my take was it’s a fantastic opportunity for both ways. You have a very, very strong footballing nation in Croatia, who have asked him to go away with the under-21s.
“He’s always had his eye on the potential of both, but, by the same token, you’ve also got the Australian national team, who have improved year on year and are going to a World Cup.”
Segecic completed his change of allegiance earlier this month and has been in camp with Croatia’s Under-21s in this international window.
“From our point of view, the reduced travelling now he is with Croatia is a bonus,”Mousinho added.
“However, my take was it’s his decision and I am delighted for him to get international football either way – but it’s his decision.
“I see the pros and cons of both. There’s the opportunity to have the choice, which is quite a nice luxury.”
After news of Segecic’s defection became public, Socceroos boss Tony Popovic reiterated that he would not be ‘selling the shirt’ to any player.
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In comments as he announced Australia’s squad for clashes against Cameroon and Curacao in this March window, Popovic said: “When I say not selling the shirt, I think 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?
“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 them that they’re going to play? And if they don’t, I have to fear that he will leave?
“It’s probably better for Adrian that he’s gone because I now haven’t restricted him from going maybe where he really wants to be.
“So at 21, I don’t know, maybe times have changed and maybe I’m a bit… 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, 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 say, OK, make a phone call and say who else wants me. Maybe that’s me a bit behind the times, but that’s what I mean by selling the shirt.
“I don’t think we’ve done anything to not indicate to young players that you can play for Australia. You can see by the squad, you can see by the last squads that we’ve selected. So young players have a great opportunity with the Socceroos. That’s clear.
“But I don’t know what else I’m supposed to do.
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“Any player that comes and says, ‘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 player’s maybe ahead physically at that moment. So he shouldn’t play because someone’s told me he’ll leave?
“That’s what I mean by selling the shirt. So I think we’ve always kept the door open. And I also respect the fact that the boy wants to play for Croatia. “