Proud Joe Simunic On Verge Of Creating Croatian Football History

One of Croatia’s most consistent players over the last decade, Australian-born defender Joe Simunic, is on the verge of hitting a milestone that only Dario Simic has achieved in Croatian football history – 100 caps for Croatia.

“That is very important for me and I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world. My goal is to get to the jubilee and it is something then nobody can take away from me,” Simunic said, who can surpass Simic on 26 March next year against Wales and become the most capped player in Croatian football history.

Simunic (34), together with current internationals Darijo Srna and Stipe Pletikosa, has played 99 times for his adopted country and the big man makes no bones about chosing Croatia over his country of birth Australia.

“I am happy and proud that I was born and grew up in Australia and I have their mentality. Nevertheless, I am also very proud of my heritage. My parents are from Croatia. I have always said that if you don’t know where you come from, then you don’t know where your going,” Simunic told daily Sportske novosti.

The World Cup in Brazil in 2014 looks like it will be an appropriate moment to call time on what has been a wonderful career for Simunic should Croatia qualify.

“Of course it would be a nice way to end, but my plan at this moment is to finish the season and stay fit and healthy. If that is the case then I would love to play to the end of the qualifiers. That is my aim. If we don’t make it then next summer will be the end.”