After the pandemic prevented him the opportunity to play at the U-17 World Cup, Adrian Segecic is determined to help Australia qualify for this year's showcase U-20 tournament.
Segicic, alongside a handful of his teammates currently in Uzbekistan for the AFC U20 Asian Cup 2023, was unfortunately denied the opportunity to qualify for the 2021 tournament due to COVID-19.
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But two years later, a top-four finish would see Segecic and the Subway Young Socceroos book their place at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
"Obviously, it's massive for all of us boys that we didn't get the chance to play in the U-17 World Cup," Segecic said.
"So now to be able to try and qualify for the U-20 World Cup is another big chance for us and for all the boys that didn't get the opportunity to go."
The Sydney FC forward sees his past experience in the green and gold as a strong asset heading into the Asian Cup.
With the core of the squad first playing together at U-17's level, they reassembled post-pandemic in Spain for the Four Nations Cup, before heading to Kuwait for a successful Asian Cup qualification campaign.
"So there's still a lot of us that have stayed together for a while now, which has helped a lot," Segecic shared.
"Now that we've been playing together for a few years, it's helped us gel on the field and know how each other plays."
Segecic emphasised team spirit amongst the squad, who are relishing the opportunity to come together with a clear goal in mind.
As is the beauty of a national team set-up, all club rivalries rapidly dissolve while the squad are gathered in camp.
“All of us are pretty close mates, but we play against each other, we don't like to lose," Segecic said.
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“So we give it to each other when we play against each other but when we come together, you know, we're best mates and we forget about all that and focus just on the team.
The boys and the staff have been really excellent, and I think everyone gets on really well, which helps a lot on the field.
“Obviously now that we've been in camp a few times together and the similar players as well, I think the bonds got a lot better, which is obviously showing them the pitch as well.
“It's good to get all the boys back in and get ready for this tournament now.”
All of the Subway Young Socceroos’ AFC U20 Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2023™ matches will be streamed live and free on 10 Play.
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Subway Young Socceroos Match Schedule – AFC Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2023™
Time/Date |
Match |
Venue |
3.00pm local, 1 March / 9.00pm AEDT, 1 March |
Australia vs Vietnam |
Istiqlol Stadium, Fergana, Uzbekistan |
3.00pm local, 4 March / 9.00pm AEDT, 4 March |
Australia vs Iran |
Istiqlol Stadium, Fergana, Uzbekistan |
3.00pm local, 7 March / 9.00pm AEDT, 7 March |
Australia vs Qatar |
JAR Stadium, Tashkent, Uzbekistan |
Subway Young Socceroos Squad | AFC Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2023™ | 1 – 18 March
Full Name |
Position |
Current Club (as at 8 Feb ‘23) |
Junior Club / Member Federation / Country |
Alexander BADOLATO |
Midfielder |
Western Sydney Wanderers FC |
Sylvania Heights FC / Football New South Wales |
Raphael BORGES RODRIGUES |
Attacker |
Melbourne City FC |
Western Strikers SC / Football South Australia |
Rhys BOZINOVSKI |
Midfielder |
Western United FC |
Spring Hills Stallions FC / Football Victoria |
Matthew DENCH |
Defender |
Charlton Athletic FC |
ECU SC / Football West |
Chris DONNELL |
Defender |
Perth Glory FC |
Rockingham City FC / Scotland |
Jed DREW |
Attacker |
Macarthur FC |
Meltham Athletic FC / England |
Joseph FORDE |
Defender |
Perth Glory FC |
Forrestfield United SC / Football West |
Jake GIRDWOOD-REICH |
Midfielder |
Sydney FC |
Sydney Olympic FC / Football New South Wales |
Archie GOODWIN |
Attacker |
Newcastle Jets FC |
Cooks Hill United FC / Football Nothern New South Wales |
Alessandro LOPANE |
Midfielder |
Western Sydney Wanderers FC |
APIA Leichhardt FC / Football New South Wales |
Panashe MADANHA |
Defender |
Adelaide United FC |
Adelaide Olympic FC / Football South Australia |
Kaelan MAJEKODUNMI |
Defender |
Perth Glory FC |
Carramar Cougars Junior FC / Football West |
James NIEUWENHUIZEN |
Goalkeeper |
Melbourne City FC |
Goulburn Valley Suns FC / Football Victoria |
Bernardo OLIVEIRA |
Attacker |
Adelaide United FC |
Port Adelaide SC / Football South Australia |
Gabriel POPOVIC |
Attacker |
NK Rudes |
Sydney United 58 FC / Football New South Wales |
Joshua RAWLINS |
Defender |
FC Utrecht |
Dianella Junior SC / Football West |
Jing REEC |
Attacker |
AGF Aarhus |
Blacktown Workers FC / Football New South Wales |
Alexander ROBINSON |
Goalkeeper |
Macarthur FC |
Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC / Football New South Wales |
Adrian SEGECIC |
Midfielder |
Sydney FC |
Lidcombe Waratah Junior SC / Football New South Wales |
Aidan SIMMONS |
Attacker |
Western Sydney Wanderers FC |
St George FA / Football New South Wales |
Nectarios TRIANTIS |
Defender |
Central Coast Mariners FC |
Canterbury Junior FC / Football New South Wales |
Jack WARSHAWSKY |
Goalkeeper |
Western Sydney Wanderers FC |
Buderim Wanderers FC / Football Queensland |
Jonny YULL |
Midfielder |
Adelaide United FC |
West Torrens Birkalla SC / Football South Australia |