Josip Šimunić Warns Croatia Over Noa Skoko’s International Future

Josip Šimunić has urged Croatia to pay attention to Noa Skoko’s international future, saying Australia is interested in the young midfielder. Skoko, 20, is playing regularly for Rudes on loan from Hajduk Split and has scored three goals in nine league appearances this season. Those figures offer a useful snapshot, but they don't settle the larger question: which national team will he represent at senior level? For now, the public case rests on his club minutes, his existing youth international record and the interest Šimunić says he has heard from Australia.

A choice between Croatia and Australia

Born in England and raised in Australia, Skoko came through Victorian club North Geelong Warriors before joining Hajduk in 2022. He has represented Croatia at under-17, under-18, under-19 and under-20 level, but remains eligible for Australia. That combination gives both countries a reason to follow his development, while leaving the central decision unresolved. Youth appearances establish a connection to Croatia, but they haven't closed the door on another national team.

“Yes, from what I’ve heard, they’re very interested in him, the Australian national team,” Šimunić said in an interview on Vecernjak’s show Stativa. The Rudes president described Skoko as a “fantastic player” who is now showing his ability after gaining the continuity of regular appearances. His comments make playing time the key part of the current picture: a young midfielder can be easier to assess when he's getting consistent chances at club level, though the available details don't establish what either national team might do next.

“He can play for both Croatia and Australia. In my opinion, we should be careful not to lose him,” Šimunić said. Asked whether Skoko could contribute to Croatia’s senior side, he replied: “I believe he can help us.” That's a clear endorsement from someone connected to Croatian football, but it remains an opinion, not a senior selection or a commitment from Skoko himself. Here's the thing: the question isn't only whether he has potential; it's also whether either country can offer a convincing path from youth football to the senior team.

Three goals in nine league appearances give the discussion a concrete club level reference point. They don't, on their own, tell us how he performs across a full season or what role he might fill internationally. Regular football can give selectors more to assess, and it can give a player a chance to build a body of work. Still, the numbers here are a starting point, not a verdict. (And this is the part most people overlook.) A national team decision often becomes a contest of opportunity and timing as much as a judgment of promise.

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Family ties to Australian football

Skoko is the son of former Socceroo Josip Skoko, who earned 51 caps between 1997 and 2007. He was part of the generation that took Australia to the 2006 FIFA World Cup, ending the team’s long wait to qualify. That family connection gives the Australia question an added dimension, but it doesn't tell us what Noa will choose. His own career has included a Croatian youth international pathway and a move into senior club football in Croatia.

Josip Skoko also played in Europe for Hajduk Split, Genk, Gençlerbirligi, Wigan Athletic and Stoke City. The choice facing his son comes as another Australian-born player, Adrian Segecic, has recently switched his international allegiance from Australia to Croatia. That comparison shows how eligibility questions can move in either direction; it doesn't establish that the two players face the same circumstances or will make similar decisions. National identity, sporting opportunity and a player's sense of connection can all matter, but the source gives no account of Noa Skoko’s personal thinking.

Regular minutes at Rudes are giving Noa Skoko a chance to make his case; whether that leads to a senior call-up remains for the national teams to decide. For Croatia, Šimunić’s comments are a public prompt to keep watching a player already familiar with its youth teams. For Australia, the reported interest is a reminder that eligibility can keep a recruitment conversation open even when a player has represented another country at youth level.

Why the next steps matter

This is more significant than it looks. A player who is active for a club and eligible for two national teams can become part of a quiet competition for attention, especially when one federation has already seen him in youth sides and another is said to be interested. But public praise and reported interest aren't the same as a senior call-up. The practical test will be whether Skoko continues to earn club opportunities and whether either national team takes a concrete step.

If you're working in this space, the useful distinction is between possibility and evidence. The evidence here is limited but clear: Skoko has appeared for Croatia’s youth teams, is currently on loan at Rudes, has scored three times in nine league appearances this season, and remains eligible for Australia. Šimunić says Australia is interested and believes Skoko could help Croatia. What happens next isn't established. A decision may hinge on the opportunities that arrive, the player's own preferences and how his form develops. For now, the story is an open international future, with regular football giving him a chance to strengthen his case. That said, the final choice belongs to Skoko.