Simunic guns for Australia

Australian taxpayer dollars could help sink the Socceroos at the World Cup.

It's an inescapable fact that one of Croatia's key defenders, Josip Simunic, was born in Australia and learned his craft at the government-funded Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra.

Simunic trained at the AIS alongside Mark Viduka.

Viduka will captain Australia against Croatia in their decisive Group F match this Thursday (Friday AET) in Stuttgart, while Simunic lines up against him for the land of his heritage rather than his birth.

Simunic values his AIS days, too, describing former head coach Ron Smith, now a technical assistant on the Socceroos staff, as one of the best he has worked with.

Simunic is one of three Australian-born players in the Croatian squad, alongside Joe Didulica and Anthony Seric, but the only one likely to see game time.

Viduka leads the contingent of Australian-born Socceroos that have Croatian heritage.

The issue is an emotive one, but straight-talking Socceroos defender Lucas Neill believes those who give Australia a 'slap in the face' by playing for another country are actually choosing 'second best'.

While not referring specifically to Simunic or Croatia, Neill said in an interview shortly before leaving Australia for the World Cup that Australian-born players dreamed of representing their country.

"Those that are Australian and have gone elsewhere, it's a slap in the face to do that," Neill told AAP. "It shows how strong we are as a nation that players who think they have a choice, who can't get in to the Australian team and choose another, they are actually picking second best."

Simunic, however, always dreamed of wearing the red and white checks instead of the green and gold.

Asked this week if Australian fans might resent his training at the AIS, Simunic replied: "That doesn't interest me."

"A few months ago I spoke to Ron Smith and congratulated him on Australia reaching the World Cup," he told reporters at the Croatian training base at Bad Bruchenau in south-eastern Germany.

"He's probably been one of the best coaches I have ever had. He's a great person as well. I wish Australia well and I wish Ron Smith especially well."

"I chose to play for Croatia because I feel I am Croatian. It was a dream of mine as a kid. I am very proud I was born in Australia and of my upbringing in Australia."

"I'm a professional; I am here to go to the second round and hopefully make history. I've got to put that out of my head for 90 minutes."

"The fact that this game is against Australia is destiny," Simunic added.

Simunic would certainly have bolstered Australia's strength in depth, had he opted for the Socceroos.

At 194cm he is at Josh Kennedy altitude, and he is powerful and uncompromising in the challenge.

Ironically Australia's tallest defender Tony Popovic, one of the Socceroos of Croatian lineage, has been ruled out of the match by injury.

Croatian coach Zlatko Kranjcar said he was aware of the issues of nationality but stated: "For me it is only a football game, Croatia against Australia, and nothing more."

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