ANGRY football chiefs have fired a "hands off" warning after it emerged yesterday that Australia's World Cup rivals Croatia want to poach yet another rising Australian star.
With three Aussies of Croatian lineage already in their squad for Germany, Croatia boss Vlatko Markovic is prepared to inflame simmering tensions by hijacking 17-year-old Australian Institute of Sport defender Matthew Spiranovic, according to newspaper reports in Croatia.
But AIS head coach Steve O'Connor last night called for drastic measures to tie the Melbourne-raised Spiranovic - who played for the Joeys at last year's under-17 world championships - to the Socceroos.
After losing two former charges to Croatia's cradle-snatchers - defenders Ante Seric and Josip Simunic - Canberra-based O'Connor said: "I've got an assurance from the kid that he wants to play for Australia and that's also the feeling of his parents.
"Having said that, we've got to get smart about this and do what Croatia do - give these players a full cap just to lock them in.
"You only have to stick them on for two minutes in a full international and that's it."
Under FIFA rules, Spiranovic could even represent the Young Socceroos in an Asian Cup qualifier and still defect to Croatia should his mind be swayed.
"Croatia have sweet-talked some of our boys in the past and we need to make sure it doesn't happen again," O'Connor said.
On this occasion, it appears Croatia's countrywide web of spies have got their wires crossed after the report in Croatia's sports daily Sportske Novosti described Spiranovic as a "striker with exceptional dexterity on and off the ball".
"Croatia don't know what they are talking about because he's far from a striker," Young Socceroos coach Ang Postecoglou said.
"Now that we have a fairer qualification route through Asia to future World Cups, I think the days of defections might be coming to an end.
"I know Matthew. He's a good kid and his heart is with Australia."
If Spiranovic was spirited off to the Balkans, he would have to pay back around $25,000 - the cost of his scholarship.
The contracts were put in place after the defection of Simunic in 2001. Goalkeeper Joe Didulica is the other Aussie now clad in the red and white checks of Croatia.
The World Cup match between Australia and Croatia in Stuttgart on June 22 is already laced with symbolism.
The AIS last night slapped a media ban on Spiranovic.
lol they took some of our players now its our turn
they are of croatian decent so its not like were stealing players for no reason
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ZAGREB, Croatia - A Croatian fan sitting courtside waved a sign as James Blake was about to serve: ``You can't beat without Pete.''
At one point, Blake shouted at the fan holding the Sampras banner, ``Put the sign down!''
A fan replied, ``Go home, James.''
Stupid assuis bitching. I love how they say " stealing ". Stelaing my kurac. If both of his parents are croatian born in croatia he should play where he wants. I hope he would play for croatia but if hes one of those yugos like davor from sfn then were out of luck. Even tho i was born in canada if i ever had the chance to play for croatia i would pack my bags and move in a second. Herc i know you live down there, what you know about the kid ?
Yer totally agree. It’s sad the way they label us as 'cradle snatchers' and 'hijackers' why because the players we got of them choose the ‘right country’ so they bitched about it or is it because of our more world class status then theirs. Yer we took 3 players of Croatian descent of them yet they have enjoyed an almost first 11 of Croats in their team. Is it wrong to have a same 50-50 chance of getting this player or are the AIS (Australian Institution of Sports) so uptight and don’t believe their chances in securing this player so they media bash us to look good. I live in Sydney and the media are saying he will choose Australia most likely but they are never to be believed them being so anti-Croatian ever since the world cup draw. If matthew does choose Croatia I think the June 22nd match will be more then just a world cup game.
Ya good post Dario. Its ok they have how many croats on the team 8 or 9 ? Do we bitch no. Its sad he chooses to play for them but nothing we can do. If h had any pride he would chose croatia. Isnt the captin Viduka ?
those guys arnt croats to me . I see real croats they wud do anything to play for croatia and represent their country. They can play for australia but they are missing out big time not playing for croatia .
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ZAGREB, Croatia - A Croatian fan sitting courtside waved a sign as James Blake was about to serve: ``You can't beat without Pete.''
At one point, Blake shouted at the fan holding the Sampras banner, ``Put the sign down!''
A fan replied, ``Go home, James.''
Stupid assuis bitching. I love how they say " stealing ". Stelaing my kurac. If both of his parents are croatian born in croatia he should play where he wants. I hope he would play for croatia but if hes one of those yugos like davor from sfn then were out of luck. Even tho i was born in canada if i ever had the chance to play for croatia i would pack my bags and move in a second. Herc i know you live down there, what you know about the kid ?
He seems interested to play for the green and gold anyway, but he isnt much of a talent we only eyed him out and the aussies se usrali u gace like they normaly do, but what kind of Croatian parents name there son "Matthew" - a typical anglo-saxon name??
Why do the aussies think we need these players? its them that are the the ones that depend on us not us depending on them... this has proved to be the case in everything, ie: sports, work, standard of living, respect, culture.... and the list goes on, better genetics i suppose :) they can only dream of being half of what we are HRVATI!
I wouldnt want him on the team even as a lacky - waterboy, anyway serem se na AIS i na AFF they can keep there "new found hope"
Not that good ? The way they talk about him they make him sound like the next superstar of soccer. But if he wanst to play for green and gold, let him be happy. If hes not a proud croat the screw him.
