Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Until this week Ante Suto had never set foot on Australian soil.
But the uncapped Hibernian forward could leave Melbourne in six days time as a fair dinkum Socceroo with a strong chance of heading to the World Cup.
“It’s actually the first time I’ve been here,” said Suto, who was born and raised in Croatia to a Melbourne-born father.
“All I can say is it’s much more better weather than in Scotland and I’m happy to be here.”
The 25-year-old could win his first cap across the next week with friendlies against Cameroon in Sydney on Friday and against Curacao in Melbourne the following Tuesday.
Socceroos boss Tony Popovic had been monitoring the striker and was due to watch him play for Croatian first division side Slaven Belupo until Suto netted a move to Scotland where he has scored three goals in seven games.
Prior to receiving his maiden call-up, Suto had dinner with assistant coach Mile Jedinak in Edinburgh and is intent on making an impression.
“I was proudly saying all my childhood that I’m an Australian,” Suto said.
“… all my friends were joking with me that I’m a kangaroo (and) they were calling me Anthony. I have always been Australian in my head.
“I know I’m going to be playing for the Socceroos with my heart and it’s special because a lot of Australian legends have heritage in Croatia so hopefully I’ll be another one like them.”
While Suto wants to follow the path laid out by Croatian-Australians of the past, Deni Juric need look no further than his big brother Tomi for inspiration, who was a member of the 2015 Asian Cup squad.
Deni, 28, is also a striker and touched down in Australia for the first time in 12 years earlier this week.
“I’m pretty aggressive, I can say that I like to do a lot of the dirty work that goes unseen,” Juric said.
“It’s obviously my job to school goals and hopefully I get a chance on the pitch to show myself … It was a privilege to watch (Tomi) put on the jersey and it was like I was wearing the jersey – and I was, I was wearing it at home.
“It’s been a dream of him and myself to play for the Socceroos, it’s a privilege to say my brother was able to play for the Socceroos and to win a lot.”
With Mohamed Toure and Nick D’Agostino injured – and Mitchell Duke, Brandon Borrello, Apostolos Stamatelopoulos and Adam Taggart all overlooked on form – Suto and Juric can bolster their chances of World Cup selection with strong showings this week.
Juric has been used to proving his worth at club level, netting five goals in 13 appearances since landing at Polish side Wisla Plock in September.
The 18-team Ekstraklasa is one of the most competitive leagues in Europe this season with 11 points separating second spot and the relegation zone.
“The league is very hectic, any team can beat any team and there’s a lot of quality there,” Juric said.
“The league has rapidly grown in the last few years and the teams are doing very well in Europe.”
