A-League legend Steve Luštica is tipping all four Croatian teams to advance to the Round of 16 of the Australia Cup, when the national knockout competition kicks off this week.
And that means there is one David versus Goliath takedown of an A-League giant in store.
Each of Sydney United 58, Adelaide Croatia Raiders, Gold Coast Knights and Canberra Croatia have made the Round of 32 of the Australia Cup having advanced through their respective local qualifying paths.
Sydney United and Adelaide Croatia both start their campaigns this week against Northern Tigers (NSW) and Cooks Hill United (NNSW) respectively, while Canberra Croatia must wait until July 30 for its date with MetroStars (SA).
Gold Coast United is also in action next week, taking on A-League premiers Auckland FC in what is one of the marquee clashes of the round.
But despite the enormity of the task facing Gold Coast against the team that took all before it in its debut season in 2024-25, Luštica said he is confident the home side can get the job done at the Croatian Sports Centre next Tuesday.
“I can’t see me not backing the Croatian clubs in all of these games,” Luštica said exclusively on a special Vjesnik TV preview of the Australia Cup.
“I’m pretty confident, and optimistic as well, that we’re going to (win) all four.
“The hardest one is, obviously, Gold Coast Knights versus Auckland. That one is obviously going to be the toughest of the four.
“When I went to Gold Coast a couple of years ago (playing for Western United), it’s a tough place to go. We battled through that one and got the result in the end, but it was a hard game.
“But I do think Gold Coast Knights are going to win.
“And looking at the other ones, they’re all winnable games (for the Croatian teams).”
It has been a tumultuous period for A-League sides, with budget cuts across both the league and clubs.
Several clubs, including Western United, who Lustica played 84 games for between 2020-24, enter 2025-26 with uncertainty lingering over their long-term viability.
Amid such a backdrop, Luštica said conditions could be rife for an NPL team to upset the odds and win the entire competition.
Sydney United came closest to achieving such a feat when it made the final of the 2022 Australia Cup, ultimately losing 2-0 to Macarthur FC.
“The gap is closing,” Luštica said.
“I could feel that in the past few years as well when we would come up against NPL clubs during pre-season.
“If it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen too. Let’s hope, for the sake of the competition as well (it does). We saw a few years ago Sydney United go all the way to the final, so we’ll see what happens over the next few weeks.”
