Tony Popovic says young players have 'great opportunity' with Socceroos despite Adrian Segečić's defection to Croatia

Socceroos coach Tony Popovic says young players have a "great opportunity" to represent Australia, despite the recent defection of Adrian Segečić to Croatia.

Segečić, who has represented Australia at the under-17, under-20 and under-23 levels, made his switch official earlier this week before he had been able to earn a cap for the Socceroos.

FIFA's rules mean if Segečić earns a cap with Croatia, currently ranked No.11 in the world, he will then not be allowed to switch back to representing Australia at a later date.

Segečić is the second player in recent years to turn his back on the Socceroos after Cristian Volpato, a dual citizen of Australia and Italy, declined the opportunity to be part of Australia's 2022 World Cup squad.

After losing Segečić to Croatia, Popovic was defiant in his belief that Australia does enough to encourage its young players of a pathway into the senior playing XI.

"If you're getting called up for Australia through the junior levels, and then you get called up by the Socceroos, shouldn't that be enough that you're wanted?" Popovic told reporters.

"Should I promise a player at 20 or 21 that he has to play? We've got young players in this squad now. Do we promise them that they're going to play?

"I don't know, maybe times have changed and maybe I'm a bit behind times here, but I know when I was 20 or 21, when I got called into the national team, if I didn't play, all I thought about was, 'OK, I love that environment, I want to play for Australia and I'll keep fighting and hopefully one day I'll get selected by the coach.'

"I don't think we've done anything to not indicate to young players that you can play for Australia, you can see by this squad, you can see by the last squads that we've selected.

"Young players have a great opportunity with the Socceroos, that's clear.

"I don't know what else I'm supposed to do. I think we've always kept the door open, and I also respect the fact that the boy wants to play for Croatia, and I wish him well."

Popovic added that it is "probably better" for Segečić to have made the call if he was hell-bent on representing Croatia at the senior level.

The Australian coach's comments come after fears the Socceroos would lose talented winger Nestory Irankunda to either Burundi or Tanzania after he had been overlooked by then-Socceroos coach Graham Arnold.

Irankunda has since earned 11 caps for the Socceroos, scoring three goals. He became Australia's second youngest men's goalscorer after scoring a penalty against Palestine in a World Cup qualifier in June 2024.

Popovic named three uncapped players to his latest squad ahead of the upcoming home friendlies — 18-year-old central defender Lucas Herrington, 28-year-old striker Deni Juric, the younger brother of former Socceroo Tomi Juric, and 25-year-old attacker Ante Suto, who is also eligible for Croatia.

Suto, who has impressed playing for Hibernian, has never set foot in Australia.

"I had no idea whether the boy wanted to play for Australia," said Popovic, who recently courted the attacker in Scotland.

"He's got a real eye for goal; real good instincts in and around the box, which you're always looking for.

"A confident young man. I'm just looking forward to seeing what he can do in our environment."

Juric, playing for Wisla Plock in Poland, adds another scoring option to a squad missing Mohamed Toure because of a groin injury.

Midfield linchpin Jackson Irvine, who has captained the Socceroos in the past, was kept out as he recovers from a foot ailment.

Towering centre-back Harry Souttar, a stand-out at Australia's last World Cup campaign, was also overlooked while on the comeback trail from a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered in December 2024.

Popovic considered naming Souttar but opted for the 27-year-old to remain training — and hopefully soon playing U21 games — at Leicester City.

"He has been out for over 15 months … but he's a top player," Popovic said.

"We know in the last World Cup, he had a very limited preparation, and he was outstanding. I don't think you can close the door for him."

Jordan Bos, Alessandro Circati, Ajdin Hrustic, Jacob Italiano, Fran Karacic, Alex Robertson and Patrick Yazbek were also recalled.

Popovic will settle his 26-man squad for the World Cup after a last friendly against Mexico in California on May 30 (May 31 AEDT).

FULL SOCCEROOS SQUAD: Patrick Beach, Aziz Behich, Jordan Bos, Martin Boyle, Cameron Burgess, Alessandro Circati, Milos Degenek, Jason Geria, Lucas Herrington, Ajdin Hrustic, Nestory Irankunda, Jacob Italiano, Paul Izzo, Deni Juric, Fran Karacic, Awer Mabil, Connor Metcalfe, Riley McGree, Aiden O'Neill, Paul Okon-Engstler, Alex Robertson, Mat Ryan, Ante Suto, Kai Trewin, Nishan Velupillay, Patrick Yazbek.