Allegiances tested when Australia play Croatia

OEHRINGEN, Germany, June 20: National allegiances will be put to the ultimate test when Australia play Croatia at the World Cup on Thursday.

They may be playing for different teams but for many of the players, the result is sure to produce bittersweet emotions because of the ancestral links between the two countries.

Seven members of the Australian squad, captain Mark Viduka, Jason Culina, Tony Popovic, Josip Skoko, Ante Covic, Zeljko Kalac and Marco Bresciano, were born in Australia but have Croatian roots.

Three of the Croatians, Josip Simunic, Joe Didulica and Anthony Seric, were born and raised in Australia, but chose to play for the land where their parents were born.

''It's going to be a very emotional game for a lot of people,'' Australia's assistant coach Graham Arnold said.

''There are a lot of Croatian-Australian people living in Australia who, if we weren't playing each other, would be supporting Australia very much.

''There will be a lot of supporters who will be happy no matter which way the result goes.'' Australia and Croatia retain a chance of reaching the last 16 from a group topped by Brazil, who have six points and have already qualified. Australia have three points and Croatia and Japan one point each.

There are at least 52,000 Croatian-born residents in Australia, although the real figure is considered to be much higher because it does not include people born in the former Yugoslavia.

There are whole generations who can trace their roots back to the Balkan state and many retain close links and an unwavering loyalty to Croatia.

Viduka grew up dreaming of playing for Croatia. His bedroom wall at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) was decorated with posters of Croatian players and when he captained Australia at the 1995 under-20 world youth championship, he wore the red and white check colours of Croatia on an armband.

He spent three and a half seasons playing with Dynamo Zagreb, married a Croatian, and was reportedly offered the chance to play for Croatia. He ultimately chose to play for Australia, a decision he says he does not regret.

''I am Aussie through and through, mate,'' he told reporters this week.

Simunic, Seric and Didulica also went to the AIS but they chose to play for Croatia. Simunic was once at the centre of a bitter tug of war between the two nations when they both picked him to make his debut.

''I'm a professional. I've chosen to play for Croatia as it was my dream as a child but I wish them the best,'' he said at training this week.

Skoko and Didulica played together as children. The players from both teams remain close friends. There is no animosity about Thursday's match, but equally no question about where everyone's loyalties will be during the 90 minutes of the match.

''The Vidukas and the Kalacs, and the Croatian players as well, all know what it means to them and their families,'' Arnold said.

''It's a big game for them, it's a big game for everybody, but they're all professionals and once they get on the field, the only thing that matters is winning. I think it's going to be a cracking game.''

REUTERS