Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Ante Suto had never been to Australia before this week, but ahead of a potential Socceroos debut on Friday night against Cameroon in Sydney. the Croatian-born striker says he has always been an Aussie “in his head”.
The 25-year-old attacker has emerged as a FIFA World Cup bolter after impressing for Hibernian since joining the Scottish Premiership club last month from Croatian top-flight outfit Slaven Belupo.
Suto’s father Anthony was born in Melbourne and spent the first 25 years of his life in Australia before moving to Croatia.
“I’ve been qualified (for Australia) since I was born,” Suto said on Wednesday.
“I was proudly saying through all my childhood that I’m an Australian also. Throughout my childhood, all my friends were joking with me that I’m a kangaroo, (and) they were calling me Anthony, so it has been part of my life.
“I have always been Australian in my head. Now it’s crazy to be here. It happened so quickly.
“It’s the first time I’ve been here and it’s much more beautiful than it is in Scotland, better weather, and I’m happy to be here.”
Suto hoped to follow in the footsteps of other Socceroos, both past and present, with Croatian heritage, including Australia’s coach Tony Popovic.
“I’m going to be playing for the Socceroos with my heart,” he said.
“It’s special for me because a lot of Australian legends have heritage in Croatia, and hopefully I’ll be another one like them.”
Another uncapped striker with Croatian heritage, Sydney-born striker Deni Juric, is also part of the Socceroos squad for the FIFA Series games against Cameroon and Curacao, whom Australia meets in Melbourne next Tuesday night.
Poland-based Juric, the younger brother of former Socceroos forward Tomi, was briefly part of the national team’s November camp in the US before having to leave early because of an injury.
“I’m born here so it means a lot to me to come back home this time – hopefully it’s not the last,” said 28-year-old Juric, who has been plagued by ankle problems in recent years.
“Unfortunately, in the last camp I was there just for a few days until I got injured, and I’ve been fully focused on doing what I can to get better, to improve physically and mentally to get a call-up here because it’s the last window before the (June-July) World Cup, and everyone wants to be here.
“Everyone brings something different to the table quality-wise, culture-wise and that’s what unites us and gives us that bit of extra edge.”
