Australia and Croatia fans a house divided

SYDNEY, June 21 (Reuters) Australian and Croatian fans could be forgiven for forgetting who they should be cheering for when the teams meet in their decisive World Cup Goup F match tomorrow.

Australia and Croatia have long had close soccer and cultural ties and no fewer than 10 players could have found themselves lining up on the other side in Stuttgart.

Seven Australian players could have qualified to wear Croatia's red-and-white checks, while three Croatians might have been singing ''Advance Australia Fair'' because they were born Down Under. Australian soccer was played for years between ethnic-based club teams, with the Melbourne Knights a de facto Croatian side before officials ''de-ethnicised'' the game in a bid to attract wider support.

There are at least 52,00 Croatian-born residents in Australia but there are many more with links to the Balkan state because figures do not include those born in the former Yugoslavia.

Whole generations can trace their roots back to Croatia and many retain undying loyalty.

The Australian Croatian Association will be awash with red, white and blue as well as green and gold when it throws open its club at 5 a.m. on Friday (1900 GMT tomorrow) to watch the match, which Croatia must win to reach the second round.

''It's a big thing for the community,'' the association's Maria Bacak said.

Australia can reach the second round for the first time if they at least draw the match but some Australian-based Croatians reckon fans will celebrate no matter who wins.

''I believe that at the end of the day, whichever team they pick, either way the fans will be winners,'' Andrew Balic, manager of the Australian Croatian National Hall outside Melbourne, told Australian Associated Press. But many others say how hard it has been for players and supporters of Croatian heritage to put aside their split allegiances.

''I'm just lost for words sometimes about it all,'' said Mary Didulica, whose Australian-born son Joe will line up for Croatia.

''I love Australia, I'm born in Australia, I always support the Socceroos, but I have a great love for my homeland,'' she told The Australian newspaper.

Friends of Australia captain Mark Viduka agree.

''It was always difficult for us as kids,'' Viduka's friend and Sydney FC player Mark Rudan said.

''At school we were called wogs (foreigners) and then we'd go to Croatia and they'd call us Australians. We were sort of always stuck between the two,'' he told The Sydney Morning Herald.

''I can't speak for every second-generation Australian of Croatian heritage but I'm pretty sure almost all of them will be supporting the Socceroos on Friday morning,'' Rudan said.

REUTERS AY DS1335