MILLIGAN KNOWS SCORE, BUT IS CONFIDENT
VETERAN Mark Milligan reckons tomorrow’s World Cup qualifier is the Socceroos’ most important match in a decade but he is confident of qualifying regardless of the route.
Milligan, who captained Australia for the eighth time last Thursday, said the players had not lost faith in the game plan after the 2-0 loss to Japan.
The Melbourne Victory marquee has been part of the last three World Cup squads and said he had not contemplated Russia 2018 qualification failure and backed Japan to give Saudi Arabia a strong contest.
With almost 30,000 fans set to pack AAMI Park, Milligan pleaded for fans to back the Socceroos.
“It’s just important on Tuesday night we get their full support because there’s no more important game that I can recall over the last 10 years since we’ve been in Asia,’’ Milligan said.
“It’s not going to be easy but we’ll come ready and we’ll get the result needed. I still believe we will go through and we’ll be fine.
“Going to consecutive World Cups has been very important, not just for the national team but for Australian football, the A-League and lower leagues.
“I still truly believe that we will put in a good performance and whether it’s Wednesday that it’s announced that we’re going to a World Cup or whether we have to wait a bit longer, it will happen.
“Obviously, that’s worstcase scenario and there’s a long wait before we have to hit that panic button.”
Milligan said the players had full faith in Ange Postecoglou’s philosophy.
“We see what it achieves when we do it well. We trust in each other and we think it’s the best way,’’ he said.
“If that (trust) wasn’t there then that’s when you have to try and change, but the group definitely does have that.”
Milligan, who spent two years in Japan with JEF United, said the Samurai Blue would go full throttle away to Saudi Arabia despite having already qualified.
“I don’t think there’s any way that if we were in their position we’d take a backwards step. I don’t think they will,’’ Milligan said.
“I don’t think it’s in their culture to not give 100 per cent.”