Deni Juric: It's a privilege to be here

Deni Juric said it was a privilege to be in CommBank Socceroos camp again, and have the opportunity to debut for the national team at the FIFA Series 2026™.

He revealed his hard work at clubland since injury forced him to withdraw from the previous window.

He also touched on his bond with his brother, 41-time Socceroo Tomi Juric.

Being back in the squad ahead of the World Cup

For me personally, it's a very big moment. It's something that can change my career entirely. It will be a dream come true, of course, just to put on the green and gold jersey, to fight for my spot. It's just a privilege to be here, especially if I get a chance to run out on the pitch. I'll give 110% of myself, and hopefully I can show myself to the boss that deserve to be here.

I had a bit of a taste of the camp [last time] and what it's like being here - amazing environment, amazing team, amazing staff. Unfortunately going home early with that injury, I put my head down, and I worked even harder than I've been working until now. I knew I had a few months to do my best to get a call up for this camp. Fortunately enough, I'm doing well enough for the boss to give me a call.

Competition for places and bond within the group

We've got a lot of a lot of quality strikers throughout throughout the world, and all of us are doing our job the best we can to fight for our spot here. Hopefully I can do my job the best, and hopefully I can get my spot here.

Once you're on the radar here, the boss keeps a close eye out for you... I knew I had a chance. But obviously I had to earn it, of course. I think I did well enough for the boss to see that.

All the boys you know, they're coming from all parts of the world, all different backgrounds. I think that's the only thing that can keep us together, if we act like a family. That's the unity that gives you the results as well, that helps the boys adapt a lot easier. Our last campaign, the first day was like I've been here for 10 years. All the boys came up, speak to me. The staff made me feel welcome, and anything I need, they're there for me 24/7. So that makes it a lot easier and helps me feel comfortable. That's when you work best.

Bond with his brother, Tomi

I only have the best memories of him in the Socceroos. The Asian Cup win. The World Cup when he was there in in Russia - he tagged us along with the family to have a look at that. So that was a privilege just to be there, and to watch him pull on that jersey every now and then. It was a privilege for me just watching him do that. Now, having the chance myself to do that, it would be a dream come true.

[Playing together for the national team] is something my father's been dreaming his whole life. Even before Tomi started playing for the national team, he said, I'm confident enough that I'm gonna have two boys playing for the national team. Fingers crossed I get a gig. I have a chance to run out onto the pitch, to put on that jersey and make his dream come true, as well as mine and my brother's.

We're in contact every single day. Every day when we speak, in life as well, [the advice is] just put my head down, work hard. The reward will come if you deserve it. If you don't deserve something, you're not going to get it. So nothing's given, everything's earned. So that's that's the advice.

It was a privilege to play with him [at Koper, a club in Slovenia]. We both had offers to go elsewhere where we were maybe better off. But when you get a chance to play with your brother - some things don't have a price. That was always a dream of ours, whether it was to play for club or country together. We got that chance, and we took it. I cherished every moment together on and off the pitch.

Choosing the Socceroos

There was one time we were speaking about Croatia or Australia, but at that time, I just moved to Dinamo [Zagreb] - and to be honest with you, I was focused on getting ready and trying to fight for my spot in Dinamo. I wasn't really heads first for the national team, either side. I was hoping to get my spot in the team - if you don't play in your team, you're not going to be in either national team. It was most important to be in the team, and then after that, it was a time to make a decision.

MATCH DETAILS

CommBank Socceroos v Cameroon

Date: Friday, 27 March
Kick-off: 8.10pm AEDT
Venue: Accor Stadium
Broadcast:  Network 10 and Paramount+
Tickets: Available on Ticketmaster

CommBank Socceroos v Curaçao
Date: Tuesday, 31 March
Kick-off: 8.10pm AEDT
Venue: AAMI Park
Broadcast:  Network 10 and Paramount+
Tickets: Available on Ticketek