Cristiano Volpato says he could feel in his heart it was "time to come home" to the Socceroos after finally defecting from Italy to play for his country of birth at a World Cup.
Sassuolo attacker Volpato is set to make his Socceroos debut against Switzerland on Saturday (5am Sunday AEST) at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego.
The 22-year-old stunned Australian football when he switched allegiances last week, after the Italy youth international previously wanted to wait for a senior call-up from the Azzurri.
Volpato hasn't spoken to media since, but in a video interview released by Football Australia on Friday indicated the turning point was the prospect of playing in this year's World Cup, which Italy didn't qualify for.
