Bert van Marwijk springs Socceroos surprise with Fran Karacic

Socceroos coach Bert van Marwijk has turned the tables on Croatia with the left-field selection of Fran Karacic.

It wasn’t long ago Croatia were stealing our best footballing talents as the lure of a career in Europe playing for the country of their heritage proved too hard to resist.

Young stars such as Josip Simunic, Ante Seric and Joey Didulica, born and raised in Australia and having played their football on various fields around the country, went on to represent Croatia at international level.

Simunic, who played 105 games for Croatia, including once against the Socceroos at the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany, and Seric both went through the football program at the Australian Institute of Sport. Their departures sparked outrage.

But now the boot is on the other foot after Socceroos coach Bert van Marwijk pulled a rabbit out of his hat by selecting Fran Karacic in the Socceroos’ 32-man preliminary squad for the World Cup in Russia next month.

Along with the selection of Melbourne City young gun Daniel Arzani, the inclusion of the 21-year-old Croatia-based defender Karacic was one of the highlights as van Marwijk unveiled a squad he will trim to 26 or 27 by May 14, before naming the final 23 players two weeks before the finals are due to start.

Melbourne City’s Daniel Arzani, right, in action against Newcastle Jets last month. Picture: AAP

Karacic, born in Zagreb, is a virtual unknown in Australia having never even visited the country, let alone played a game here. However, according to Adam Howard, who first wrote about him two years ago for the Football Central website, his father was born here, but moved to Croatia with his family when he was just three.

Karacic, who has an Australian passport, started his junior career in Croatia before joining the youth set-up at NK Lokomotiva. He broke into the senior side in 2015 at the age of 18 and has since played over 50 games for them and is now captain. Not surprisingly Croatia, who have also qualified for Russia, have looked at him and he represented them at under-21 level last month, although that does not tie him to Croatia.

Van Marwijk said he was unaware of the right back until alerted by assistant Ante Milicic, who is now based in Croatia and has seen Karacic play a number of times.

“Ante knows him very well. He plays at the highest level in Croatia and captains the team,” van Marwijk said. “Everyone knows we don’t have many choices at right back so this is a good chance to nominate him and have a look at him.”

Karacic is now a serious contender for a spot in the final 23-man squad for Russia — a squad that could also include Arzani.

The 19-year-old came from nowhere this season to be one of the most talked about players in the A-League. Many believe he should have been part of van Marwijk’s squad for the Socceroos friendlies against Norway and Colombia last March. But the Dutchman explained he felt it would have been too soon for the youngster because he had not played enough football in the national competition.

Asked what had changed his mind van Marwijk said: “Playing games. We knew him but he didn’t play every week.

“He is 19 just coming (through), has to learn a lot and I did not know him so it was normal (not to pick him at the time). Now I have a lot (more) information through my technical staff, from other coaches and from what I have seen. Now he is playing every week, he is a young player and has to learn a lot but he is a player who can make a difference.

“Maybe the World Championship is too early for him but I will not hesitate when I think he can mean something for us and make a difference in the last 10 or 15 minutes of a game.”

Of course, Tim Cahill is part of the squad and from the way van Marwijk was talking, he will be in Russia for his fourth appearance at the World Cup finals, despite being 38 and having played only a little over an hour of football with Millwall since the end of January.

“He is a special case. He is 38, double Arzani’s age, but one of the best ever for Australia,” van Marwijk said. “ He is someone who can also make a difference.”

PROVISIONAL SQUAD: Goalkeepers: Brad Jones, Mitch Langerak, Mat Ryan, Danny Vukovic Defenders: Josh Risdon, Fran Karacic, Josh Brillante, Trent Sainsbury, Milos Degenek, Bailey Wright, Matt Jurman, Aleksandar Susnjar, Mark Milligan, Aziz Behich, Alex Gersbach, James Meredith Midfielders: Mile Jedinak, Aaron Mooy, Jackson Irvine, Massimo Luongo, Tom Rogic, James Troisi, Dimi Petratos Forwards: Mat Leckie, Andrew Nabbout, Robbie Kruse, Nikita Rukavytsya, Tomi Juric, Tim Cahill, Jamie Maclaren, Apo Giannou and Daniel Arzani.