Rogic's wild ride continues all the way to Rio

From Gosford to Glasgow and back again Tom Rogic has taken all before him and now a maiden FIFA World Cup awaits an Australian football prodigy.

This time last year Tomas Rogic was training for his first real full season as a footballer, set for a starting role in the Hyundai A-League with the Central Coast Mariners.

Now he-s a semi-regular for Scottish Champions and regular UEFA Champions League side Glasgow Celtic and ready to enjoy his first FIFA World Cup with his Socceroos teammates, not bad for a 20-year-old kid from Canberra.

Yep, it would appear Rogic has the Australian footballing world at his talented feet, the former Futsalroo enduring a wonderful transition this last 12 months and right now it-s something he is finding hard to believe has happened, the qualification for Brazil hardly shaving had time to sink in.

“Going to a World Cup, it-s unreal, it-s something special. I never would have thought it was possible a couple of years ago, so now it-s still hard to believe,” Rogic said.

Coming on as a sub for a struggling Brett Holman against Iraq, Rogic was given plenty of time to have an impact and the talented attacker immediately forged his way between runners and into the area as Australia surged, looking for the goal that would send them to Brazil and a third straight World Cup.

The message from the coach was simple, make a statement, Rogic did, but ultimately that final shot or pass wasn-t there for him as threatening as he was, but overall he felt it was a positive performance.

“It was a good half an hour on there,” Rogic said. “I was a bit nervous but did my best. Holger gave me a few words to give me a bit of confidence before I went on, he just told me to do my job and relax and have a bit of fun.

“As a sub you try and make an impact straight away, I just try and go out there and do my best, luckily Josh came on shortly after and got the winner. I thought we were dominant, we got the goal and then held out.”

Rogic may be the youngest man who played on the night but he wasn-t the only one and he believes the way his fellow young guns are playing is cause for them to keep their spots when Holger Osieck takes his team to Brazil, especially given the advice they have received from some of the senior squad member

“There are a few young boys doing well, Oar and Kruse, a few of the young boys are doing well and hopefully can push for the World Cup.

“We have a few experienced boys who have ben to two World Cups and are going to their third now. That helps younger boys like myself and I was fortunate enough to have a few talks with those boys who know what they are talking about, it-s been a pretty good few weeks.”