Australia striker Tomi Juric says intercontinental cup could be vital for himself and the team.
Socceroos striker Tomi Juric is a man in form after six goals in six games and he’s also hot property on the transfer market.
The 25-year-old forward netted twice in Australia’s 3-2 win over Saudi Arabia in Adelaide on Thursday night to maintain his super form, having scored four goals in five games late in the Swiss season for FC Luzern.
Australia's lead is restored! #AUSvKSA pic.twitter.com/sUlywV9XSL
— 9Go! (@9Go) June 8, 2017
Juric has another year to run on his Luzern contract but is being monitored by several clubs, with German Bundesliga pair Eintracht Frankfurt and FC Augsburg scouting him in March, while English Championship club Reading made an offer for him in January.
The Confederations Cup, where Australia will face Germany, Chile and Cameroon, looms as the perfect platform for the ex-Western Sydney man to showcase his talents.
“For me personally, I’ve finished off well in the business part of the season,” Juric said.
“If I can keep this ball rolling, it’s an important competition and one we really want to do well in. It’s not something we take lightly. We want to go there and make an impact and play well.
“That stands for everybody, not just myself. I think everyone is full of confidence that we can make an impact.”
Juric declined Reading’s overtures in January, preferring to focus on his fitness and building game-time at Luzern.
Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou went out of his way post-game to acknowledge the 2016-17 season was the first time Juric has played more than 30 games.
The Sydney-born striker has had a nomadic career to date, with spells at three Croatian clubs, before time at Adelaide United, Wanderers, Roda JC and Luzern.
The longest period he’s been with the one club is almost two years at Wanderers, so establishing some continuity may attract him to stay in Switzerland.
“I’ve been doing well in Switzerland,” Juric said.
Juric has scored the first GOAL for the @Socceroos! #AUSvKSA pic.twitter.com/am5mRiS56v
— 9Go! (@9Go) June 8, 2017
“I’ve got a lot of games under my belt this year. I had a good finish to the season. I’m glad I’ve come in and kept the ball rolling.”
Juric’s two goals against the Green Falcons were vastly different, the first swooping on a miscued clearance to slot on his left foot with his second touch from distance. The second was a precise header when he found in space inside the box by Mathew Leckie.
The big striker recalled the first goal, saying it was a lot harder than it looked.
“It looks easy. It’s one of the hardest finishes I’ve had to put away for a while,” Juric said.
“A bit of instinct. I was lucky with the keeper slipping and being in the right spot at the right time. It happens in a split second. It’s just instinct. I ended up putting it away.
“It was a tough ball. It came at me quick. My touch was good which set me up. I was fortunate enough to get some good technique on that and put it away.”
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