As a lifelong Socceroos supporter, few things filled me with more pride than seeing Joeys captain Anthony Pavlešić sign for Bayern Munich in 2023, and a year later Perth’s James Overy joining Manchester United. These were moments that hinted at a golden future for Australian football. But that excitement quickly turned to concern.
Within a month, Overy made his debut for Scotland’s U19s, and Pavlešić reportedly switched his international allegiance to Croatia.
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They’re not alone. Perth-born Zak Gilsenan has featured for Ireland’s youth sides, while Noa Skoko and Liam Chipperfield — sons of legendary Socceroos Josip Skoko and Scott Chipperfield — are currently representing Croatia and Switzerland at junior levels.
Even more high-profile cases include Cristian Volpato, who turned down a 2022 World Cup call-up to play for Italy’s U21s, and Alex Robertson, who has featured in friendlies for Australia but remains uncommitted to the national team.
Alex Robertson playing for Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Let’s be clear — this isn’t a criticism of the players. FIFA’s eligibility rules are reasonable, especially compared to other codes like Rugby Union. If a dual-national player chooses another country, that’s their right. Still, as a fan, it’s hard not to feel the sting of missed potential.
So what can Football Australia do to stem the flow?
One major factor often cited is geography. For a young player like Overy, it’s far more practical to link up with a Scottish camp than to fly halfway around the world to join the Joeys or Young Socceroos. Distance shouldn’t dictate national allegiance, but it clearly plays a role.
Could a more permanent solution lie in increasing Australia’s presence in Europe? In the early 2000s, the Socceroos regularly scheduled friendlies on the continent, catering to squads filled with Europe-based players. Reviving that approach — with more junior and senior camps held abroad — might make it easier for dual-national players to stay engaged with the green and gold.
While there are valid logistical and financial challenges—particularly with the growing role of A-League talent in the national team—creating consistent opportunities for Europe-based youngsters to connect with the Socceroos setup could prove crucial. Marcus Neill, son of Golden Generation captain Lucas Neill, is a standout striker for Sunderland’s youth side. With proven goal scorers in short supply for Australia, prioritising players like Marcus is essential. The goal should be to make the Socceroos jersey more appealing to him than potential alternatives.
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer here. But off the back of the U20s side’s promising Asian Cup campaign — with talents like Nestory Irankunda and Garang Kuol playing well this season — the dream of a future Socceroos squad built around this exciting core remains alive.
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