National team captain Mat Ryan would welcome Cristian Volpato and Adrian Segecic into the Socceroos fold if they changed their minds about representing other nations over Australia.
Sydney-born Segecic, a former Australian under-17, under-20 and under-23 international who plays for English Championship club Portsmouth, earlier this month opted to link with Croatia, seemingly frustrated with not being chosen for Socceroos duty.
Volpato, who was also born in Sydney but played youth team football for Italy, recently had discussions with Socceroos coach Tony Popovic about playing for Australia.
However, Volpato, who plays his club football for Italian top-flight outfit Sassuolo, this week made it clear that he wanted to represent Italy at senior level over Australia.
“They’ve been wanting to call me to Australia for a few years, but I grew up watching the Azzurri, even the coach (Gennaro Gattuso), and I’m waiting for Italy, then we’ll see how the rest goes,” the 22-year-old winger said.
Ryan wished Segecic and Volpato well, and suggested the door would remain open to the pair should they change their decision while they were still eligible to represent Australia.
“I don’t know what was going on which has led these players to these decisions that they’re making,” the Socceroos skipper and goalkeeper said.
“You never really know in these situations until they play out. I don’t like confrontation. I respect everyone’s decision.
“If it got to a point where a player like that will come in here, then you go ahead and accept them, and just try to make the team as strong as possible.”
He said the Socceroos had benefited in the past from players with dual nationality choosing to represent Australia over their country of birth, including Scotland-born pair Martin Boyle and Harry Souttar.
“It’s just part of the game. That’s the way it goes, the way it works with this dual nationality,” Ryan said ahead of the Socceroos’ FIFA Series clash with Cameroon at Sydney’s Accor Stadium on Friday night.
“We’re just dealing with what’s in front of us and trying to make our team the best that we can be.”
The Socceroos’ FIFA Series squad includes Cardiff City star Alex Robertson, who according to Popovic, had not in the past made himself available to play for Australia.
It led to speculation that Robertson, who played youth team football for England and is also eligible to represent Scotland and Peru, would also be lost to Australia.
However, the 22-year-old midfielder, who has made two appearances for the Socceroos in friendly internationals, on Tuesday said his choice was “always Australia”.
“I grew up in Australia as a kid,” said Scotland-born Robertson, whose father Mark was a Socceroo.
“I classed myself as being Australian and I couldn’t really think to play for any other country than Australia, even though I played for England when I was younger, obviously because I was over there (in the United Kingdom).”
