Socceroos’ Matthew Spiranovic was approached to play for Croatia but says it was an easy call

HAD things panned out differently, defender Matthew Spiranovic could have been playing against the Socceroos on Saturday morning.

SALVADOR, BRAZIL - JUNE 05: Matthew Spiranovic of the Socceroos poses ahead of an Australian Socceroos training session at Pituacu Stadium on June 5, 2014 in Salvador, Brazil. Australia are playing Croatia in an international friendly match on June 6th. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

HAD things panned out differently, defender Matthew Spiranovic could have been playing against the Socceroos on Saturday morning.

Croatian Football Federation president, the late Vlatko Markovic, was among several delegates who approached Spiranovic when he had broken into German club Nurnberg’s first-team, age 18.

Spiranovic, who had not yet made his Socceroos debut at that stage, recalled how Australian-born Croatian defender Josip Simunic convinced him to follow his heart.

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Seven years on, Spiranovic will marshal an Australian defence against Croatia in both teams’ final friendly before the World Cup.

“I remember playing against Hertha Berlin and after the game speaking with a few of their representatives,’’ Spiranovic said.

“I remember Joe saying ‘they’ll speak to you but follow your heart and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise’, and in my heart what I felt was that I definitely wanted to play for the green and gold.

“Being born and raised in Australia it was a pretty clear decision for me who I wanted to represent.

“I’m proud of my Croatian heritage, but it was always a clear decision for me and who I wanted to play for and I’m happy with the decision.’’

Assistant coach Ante Milicic has a laugh with Matthew Spiranovic during training. The pair previously worked together at Western Sydney Wanderers. Pic: George Salpigtidis.

Spiranovic, who missed the South Africa friendly with an ankle injury, will partner Jeonbuk’s Alex Wilkinson in central defence and said he was feeling good having trained fully since arriving in Brazil.

“I’m good to go, 100 per cent, it was more just precaution against South Africa but I’m feeling good,’’ he said.

“It’s another step in our preparation, we want to work on key areas of our game we’ve been working on the last few weeks.

“Croatia being a top side, it’s a good test for us, another 90 minutes. But even if it is fantastic tomorrow we still won’t be the finished product, there’s still a week to.

“Whatever the outcome we hope it’s a positive one and we want to take confidence into the Chile game.’’

He admitted needing to take a lead role now with the Socceroos fielding an inexperienced side.

“Every training the understanding’s getting better and the whole team hasn’t played a lot together. It’s something we’re working on everyday and we probably have to be a bit more vocal than usual because we haven’t played a lot together,’’ Spiranovic said.

Originally published as Socceroos’ Matthew Spiranovic was approached to play for Croatia but says it was an easy call