Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Sydney: Australian coach Ange Postecoglou has heaped praise on his captain Mile Jedinak after the experienced midfielder played a pivotal role in guiding Australia to the FIFA World Cup 2018 Russia with a 3-1 win over Honduras in the Intercontinental Play-off at Stadium Australia on Wednesday.
Jedinak only returned to the Socceroos squad for the previous round of play-offs against Syria after being sidelined from national team duty since June with a groin injury.
But the Aston Villa midfielder proved his worth to the team with two impressive displays across the two legs and it was fitting that it was he who scored to take Australia to the FIFA World Cup 2018.
“I think he’s been an outstanding captain, an outstanding leader on and off-the-park and it was great to see him out there tonight,” Postecoglou said after becoming the first Australian coach to qualify the national team for the FIFA World Cup.
“He’s obviously missed the end bit of our campaign, but it was right that he was out there today because the early part of the qualifying that was a real grind for us, and it was the likes of him, and Timmy (Cahill) and Millsy (Mark Milligan) that steered them through it.
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/cahill_honduras_jpg.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/auz_team_clock_jpg.html
