A late arrival in coach Otto Baric's thoughts, Sokota has had a long established record as a goalscorer at club level.
He moved to Benfica in 2001 after topping the Croatian goalscoring charts in consecutive seasons with Dinamo Zagreb.
And he has been a solid performer in Lisbon, though the fallen Portuguese giants' ambitious re-building plans have not truly come to fruition.
A strong, direct striker with a resemblance to countryman Dado Prso, the 27-year-old will start the tournament as a reserve for the Rangers-bound Monaco forward and free-scoring Werder Bremen man Ivan Klasnic.
The added presence of Ivica Olic and Ivica Mornar, another big frontman, will not help his cause but a starting place in the decisive qualifying play-off second leg win over Slovenia suggests he has Baric's confidence.
And after missing the 2002 World Cup through injury, Sokota will be eager to maximise any opportunity.
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