As the club season winds down, one name is quietly gaining momentum around the Croatian national team: Adrian Segečić. Manager Zlatko Dalić is reportedly keeping a close eye on him after strong impressions at the U21 level under Ivica Olić. This comes alongside a slew of injured Croatians, including winger Marco Pašalić, who is currently rehabbing a quad tear in Zagreb.
The 21-year-old Australia-born attacker/winger has emerged as one of the more intriguing breakout stories this season. Earlier in the campaign, he accepted a call-up to the Australian national team but was not capped under Tony Popovic, which allowed him to switch his international allegiance to Croatia.
Since then, Segečić has featured for Croatia’s U21 side, where he quickly made an impression with club form only strengthening his case over the past month. Playing for Portsmouth in the English 2nd flight, he’s hit a strong run, recording a hat-trick and registering four goals and three assists across his last five Championship matches.
The Vatreni have been in shortage of wingers for the past decade. If Marco Pašalić is not good to go for the World Cup, does Dalić dare call up one of the “most green” youngsters in recent years to play on the world’s largest stage? The Croatia vs. England match is officially 48 days away. We are not only monitoring Segečić and Marco Pašalić. But also injuries to Modrić, Gvardiol, Vušković and Musa.
Bring him to the friendlies Dalic, take a chance! Feels like he has a better eye for finishing than ivanovic or matanovic but we can’t know for sure unless we try him
Musa , Segecic, Baturina, Sucic, Pasalic,……..Kramaric, Kovacic, Perisic who?
We really do have a great mix of the future youth, and the experienced winners in one team, hard to not like our chances of putting up a good showing this year, getting ahead of counting the chicks a bit. Segecic seems like the perfect fit.
So lucky to pick him up, the opposite situation of Sosa. Someone is watching over us.
Legit goals in a quite high level competition
I like his fire
He’s a Croat
We don’t have enough firepower…So I say play him, what have we got to lose really?!
Anonymous keeps talking about this kid, so I for one would like to see him play in the friendlies for the National Team. If Marco is injured then play this kid and see what happens. Build a plan and a decent line, give the kid an actual shot to succeed. Then let’s see what he is made of.
With those goals scored and the touch he has he looks like he would be pretty solid as a striker/winger.
I agree with play him in the friendlies and see what happens. I’m not really convinced yet but we’ll see…
Both Marco and Adrian bring a similar exuberant direct aggressive energy level of play to the game. Would think Adrian could be a good but very untested NT replacement. Bring him to the friendlies and try him out, even if Marco is back, to see what he can do.