Karačić: If I'm called upon, I will give 100%, every time

Taryn Heddo 1742349020,1742352094

The last time that Subway Socceroos defender Fran Karačić put on the Green and Gold was during the FIFA World Cup 2022™ - or in his words, the "best weeks of my life".

Now, after being selected for the first time since that tournament, Karačić is ready to contribute in any way that he can to the team's bid to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026™.

We sat down to speak to the 28-year-old about what he has been up to since 2022, his thoughts on new coach Tony Popovic, and his hopes for the games against Indonesia and China PR.

Recalling 2022

The best, three or four weeks in my life. We passed the group stage. We lost against Argentina and France. In the end, they played the final, so quite a good result for us.

Club football between now and then

After the World Cup, I came back to Italy [where he was playing for Brescia], and I didn't extend my contract. I remained without a club... I needed a rest.

I got a red card in the last game in Italy. If I signed for a club, I'm banned for three games. After two or three months without a club, that became a bigger problem. I remained without a club for six or seven months.

I decided to come back to Croatia, for a club that went from the Second Division to the First Division [NK Rudeš], where I had some friends who are leading that club. I decided to start from the beginning, and after six months, I played well - around 10 games.

Then I came back to my club where everything started, Lokomotiva [Zagreb], and now everything is very well. I became a captain after six months, and now I'm back in the national team. So for me, it's, it's very good now.

Returning to the Socceroos

I spoke to the coach yesterday, five minutes after arriving into camp.

I'm happy to be here because I was watching Socceroos for the last two years, and I'm happy to be here to help the national team to reach the World Cup. I saw the table. We are second on the table. It's everything on us, four more games, and we are close. I'm really happy to be here to help them and to reach the World Cup, the best competition in the world.

Most of the players I know from before [when he was previously in the squad]. A couple of players are new, some players are from the World Cup, and I'm enjoying it.

Impressions of Tony Popovic

I heard about him from a lot of people in Croatia who know him. I heard he's a very good coach. He got very good results in clubs in Australia, and now he's the Head Coach of the national team, and I heard that everything is very professional. We had a meeting yesterday. He told us everything that he wants from us, and that's normal, because we are now in the national team. We are, at this moment, the best players in the country, because he decided to pick 26 players for this round of competition, and we need to behave like that.

His role in the team

I'm here to help. If I play, I'll give 100% every time, and more or less, that's it. It's on the coach. We have one training today, and tomorrow, it's a game. I don't know which position he's planning me to play, but we will see. I can play as right wing-back. I can play as right-back, or central defender. I can play every position - it depends what suits the coach.

MATCH DETAILS

Subway Socceroos v Indonesia
Thursday, 20 March 2025
Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
Kick-off: 8.00pm AEDT
Tickets: Available via Ticketek
Broadcast: 10, 10 Play and Paramount+

China PR v Subway Socceroos
Tuesday 25 March 2025
Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium, Hangzhou
Kick-off: 7.00pm local / 10.00pm AEDT
Broadcast: Paramount+