RogicstarsasSocceroosgotheextraMile
CELTIC midfielder Tom Rogic can’t wait to play in his first World Cup after Australia sealed qualification in style yesterday.
The 24-year-old won praise from Socceroos boss Ange Postecoglou after Mile Jedinak’s hat-trick booked a spot at Russia 2018 in a 3-1 second-leg triumph over Honduras in Sydney.
Rogic pulled the strings from the start and his surging run led to the opener as he was fouled just outside the box and Jedinak fired home a deflected free-kick.
The Celtic ace said: “This is special, at home in front of friends and family. We always thought we could get the job done.
“If anyone deserves it, it is this playing group and this staff. I missed the last World Cup through injury but that seems like a world away now.”
Postecoglou hailed his impact and said: “Tommy Rogic was brilliant tonight.
“I said to him before the first game I knew this was going to be his night. Tonight he was the one who provided that spark.
“We needed him to because it was going to be tight. We needed someone like him to break it open and Tommy was outstanding.”
After Jedinak’s 53rd-minute opener he added a penalty following a Bryan Acosta handball.
He got his treble in 85 minutes, slotting a second spot-kick after Robbie Kruse was hacked down.
Maynor Figueroa bundled in a consolation for Honduras from a corner in time added on.