Socceroo Fran Karacic gutted as World Cup dreams dashed
EXCLUSIVE: After being axed by Socceroos coach Bert van Marwijk, Fran Karacic says he saw the writing on the wall — but has still been left gutted after having his World Cup dreams dashed.
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HE was looming as the Socceroos’ most left-field selection in World Cup history, but today Fran Karacic was tinged with “sadness” after his dreams were dashed.
The Croatia-based right-back was one of four last-ditch omissions as the Socceroos whittled their Russia 2018 squad down to 23.
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Karachi, 22, revealed that Socceroos coach Bert van Marwijk pulled him aside a week ago and said he would need to stand out if he was any chance of making the cut, before sensing the writing was on the wall.
“I’m not angry at all, a touch disappointed but mainly sad. This is football. I have to be professional,’’ Karacic told the Herald Sun.
“The first week the coach let me work normally, the start of the second week we had a chat and he said this week I’m watching you closely and I have to show something extra.
“At the end he said I’d improved but there’s not enough time and he doesn’t want to take the risk.
“Maybe (Saturday) when I didn’t play. I didn’t play a minute so I realised I’m probably not going. If I was going he may have thrown me in, we were winning comfortably.
“It was a great experience and hopefully I’ve got World Cups and Asian Cups ahead of me.”
Lokomotiva Zagreb’s executive director Dennis Gudasic revealed that Karacic is attracting interest from stronger European leagues, indicating that he will keep knocking on the Socceroos door.
Called up to his maiden Socceroos camp, having never set foot in Australia let alone met any of the players, the Croatia Under-21 international conceded it was initially confronting joining the extended squad in Antalya.
In the end Karacic ran out of time to prove his worth to the coaching staff.
“We each had a chat with the coach and the assistant. He said he was happy to have me here, and I have potential and said he knew it was difficult for me.
“When you come into a new club it’ll take 2-3 months to adapt. The coach said 10 days is too short.
“It was the first time I experienced that. Completely different to Croatia, took me a few days to acclimatise and everyone accepted me really well.
“I was hoping I would go to the World Cup but unfortunately it’s panned out like this, that’s the coach’s call. He’s picked the players who he thinks will deliver him results.”
LAST-MINUTE HEARTBREAK
Socceroos’ last four World Cup omissions
1. Fran Karacic, 22 (Lokomotiva Zagreb, Croatia)
Bert preferred: Josh Risdon
Having never been part of a Socceroos camp, Karacic needed to shine to oust incumbent Josh Risdon and the fact that there was only one friendly hurt him.
2. Josh Brillante, 25 (Sydney FC)
Bert preferred: Milos Degenek/Jamie Maclaren
Named as a “defender” indicating he was competing for a right-back spot. Versatile defender Degenek was ultimately preferred as Risdon’s back-up.
3. James Troisi, 29 (Melbourne Victory)
Bert preferred: Daniel Arzani/Dimi Petratos
Troisi, whose international record is decent, struggled to win over van Marwijk, who sacrificed his raw speed for Daniel Arzani and Dimi Petratos’ trickery.
4. Nikita Rukavystsya, 30 (Maccabi Haifa, Israel)
Bert preferred: Jamie Maclaren/Dimi Petratos
The rapid attacker dropped down the pecking order once Robbie Kruse secured the left wing, van Marwijk took a shine to Petratos and Nabbout plus Maclaren’s late inclusion.
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