Socceroos defender Milos Degenek saw off Mane and Salah — now Kane and Lewandowski await
He’s far from the Socceroos’ biggest name, but defender Milos Degenek is quickly racking up valuable big match experience.
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Big players like big games, and there’s growing evidence that Milos Degenek is quietly becoming one of the Socceroos’ key performers.
Last year it was Liverpool’s much-vaunted attack that Degenek played a key role in subduing. In coming weeks the likes of Robert Lewandowski and Harry Kane lie ahead.
And before that there’s the small matter of a World Cup qualifier in the heat and dust of Kuwait City, right at the start of the road to Qatar 2022.
At 25 Degenek has not always been the most celebrated member of the Australian squad, not least as it was his errant backpass that led to his side’s elimination from the Asian Cup in January.
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But other performances have caught the eye for the right reasons, like his major role in Red Star Belgrade beating Liverpool in the Champions League last season. That’s the way Degenek prefers to promote himself, rather through any big statements off the field.
“When you play against better opponents every week, you have no choice but to improve,’ he said. “Even when you lose, you learn from what these top strikers do.
“It helps my game playing against some of the best forwards in the world. I’m a very positive person, and I want to help those around me improve too.
“Last year it was taking on Liverpool, Napoli and Paris St Germain, now it’s Bayern Munich, Tottenham and Olympiakos.
“These aren’t games to keep you awake at night worrying, they’re opportunities to look forward to.
“Against Liverpool last year we lost at Anfield but we learnt from that — and it was especially pleasing the way we did things in the return game (which Red Star won 2-0, with Degenek widely praised).
“To keep the best front three in Europe down to so few shots on goal, maybe we got some recognition there — also the fact we drew with Napoli.
“Maybe people thought, ‘you know this guy can play.’ ”
And so what he calls “the journey” continues, the low of the Asian Cup exit counterpointed by highs like the last seven days where his form for Red Star has been rewarded with a four-year contract, days after they beat the league leaders.
If the last few months have also been bewildering, switching from Red Star to Saudi Arabia in January then back against in July, the moment his mistake lost an Asian Cup quarterfinal taught Degenek to take nothing for granted — good or bad.
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“I’m very proud of where I’ve got to — the road you take in football seems to change every year,” he said. “I’m thankful for the opportunity I’ve had to represent my country under Ange (Postecoglou) and Arnie.
“What happened at the Asian Cup is part of football, things like that happen. You have to move on as a person, and I’ve had a good six months since.
“I’m excited to pull on the Australian shirt this week, I’m excited about the future.”