Latest news with #BrandonBorrello
News.com.au
29-05-2025
- Politics
- News.com.au
Johnny Warren Medal winner Nicolas Milanovic chasing World Cup dream
Having achieved his goal of being recognised as the A-League's best player, Johnny Warren Medal winner Nicolas Milanovic has shifted his focus to becoming an entrenched member of the Socceroos squad by starring for his new club Aberdeen. After a superb season for the Western Sydney Wanderers, Milanovic is in strong contention to be selected in Australia's squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Japan and Saudi Arabia. The 23-year-old attacking weapon is in the UAE at a national training camp, with Socceroos coach Tony Popovic to announce his squad on Sunday for next Thursday's battle with Japan in Perth and the June 11 (AEST) clash with the Saudis in Jeddah. Brandon Borrello never had a club teammate in a Subway #Socceroos training camp before. Now he’s working alongside a couple of @wswanderersfc, while praising recently crowned Johnny Warren Medallist Nicolas Milanovic for adapting quickly to his new surroundings ðŸ'´âš«ï¸� — Subway Socceroos (@Socceroos) May 28, 2025 'It's just about trusting yourself and backing your own ability,' the uncapped Milanovic said. 'I've done that all season and had my doubters and tried to prove people wrong. 'Now, I'm with the big boys of Australia, with some great players here, and I want to put my best foot forward and show that I'm good enough to be here. 'That's how I'm taking it. I'm training my hardest and seeing where I'm at and trusting in my ability to be in the team. 'I want to be at the World Cup. That's a major goal of mine. That's the No.1 long-term goal that I've had for a few years now, and I'm chipping away at it.' Should the Socceroos qualify for next year' FIFA World Cup, Milanovic will need to impress for Aberdeen after signing with the Scottish Premiership club earlier this month. He had the chance to move overseas a year ago but felt he needed to further prove himself in the A-League. 'I wanted to be the best in the league before I went,' Milanovic said. 'I'm fortunate enough … to have had a great (Wanderers) squad this year to help me to do that and a coaching staff that allowed me to do what I wanted to do on the pitch and be the Johnny Warren (Medal) winner. 'I had a bit of doubt last year. I had had offers to go (overseas), but I was a bit hesitant … but this Aberdeen move, there wasn't one hint of doubt in my head. 'It was the place I wanted to go, and I'm really happy I've done that.' An added bonus is that Aberdeen has also qualified for the UEFA Europa League after an upset Scottish Cup final win, via a penalty shootout, over Celtic. 'Watching that, it was a really good feeling because I'll (now) be playing in (European competition) next season,' Milanovic squad.
News.com.au
27-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Brandon Borrello edges closer to representing Socceroos at major tournament
The chance to represent the Socceroos in a major tournament continues to drive Western Sydney Wanderers forward Brandon Borrello in his bid for a regular spot in Australia's squad. Borrello, who turns 30 in July, debuted for the Socceroos six years ago, but injuries have largely restricted him to 13 appearances for the national team. Yet to play at an AFC Asian Cup or a FIFA World Cup, Borrello senses he has a real opportunity to change that by being part of the Socceroos squad – should Australia qualify – at next year's World Cup in the US, Mexico and Canada. He has been part of the Socceroos' past two squads and is at a national training camp in the UAE, from which Australia's coach Tony Popovic will select his playing contingent for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Japan (June 5, Perth) and Saudi Arabia (June 11 AEST, Jeddah). 'I've always been a part of qualifiers but never been to a big tournament, like the World Cup, the biggest tournament there is,' said Borrello, who added that 'egos' had to put aside if the Socceroos wanted to seal qualification next month. 'At club land, the less egos you have, the better the team works. We saw it at club land this year (at the Wanderers) with goals being from different avenues, people setting up other people … and just to reciprocate that at the highest level for your country is my goal. 'The way I like to play football, I like to feel comfortable in the environment and the people that I'm playing with, so when everyone's happy, it just helps with the overall general vide of the team. 'That works best for me, not that it might work for everyone else, but that's one of the better ways to go about it.' Borrello said the training camp was 'very intense' and detailed. 'It's definitely by no means a holiday here. Everyone's trying to put their best foot forward,' he said. 'We're trying to do as much as we can. We have video sessions, there's one-on-on groups as well just to go through positioning … there's a lot of information to take in. 'The quicker you absorb that, the better you are all for it.' Competition for spots for the final squad is ramping up as Brandon Borrello talks about the intensity during each training session. 🗣ï¸� #Socceroos — Subway Socceroos (@Socceroos) May 27, 2025 Borrello said emerging talent Nicolas Milanovic, who recently signed for Scottish club Aberdeen after starring for the Wanderers in their 2024-25 campaign, had 'fitted in really well' in camp in his quest for a maiden Socceroos cap. 'He's enjoying training, he looks sharp, so I guess all he has to do is just carry on the way he's been playing at club for his country,' Borrello said. 'He's a great footballer, he's a great professional and … he understands what the boss (Popovic) wants, comes in, does his part, does his role, and makes sure everything on the pitch is matched with everything off the pitch.'
News.com.au
09-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Melbourne Victory star Daniel Arzani will welcome being jeered by Western Sydney Wanderers fans
Socceroos playmaker Daniel Arzani hopes he's jeered by Western Sydney Wanderers fans on Saturday night, saying a hostile atmosphere will further inspire him to guide Melbourne Victory to an A-League elimination final win. The Victory faces the tough task of beating the in-form Wanderers at CommBank Stadium, but it's a challenge the confident Arzani will relish. 'They're a good team but on our day, I don't think there's a team that can beat us in this league,' Arzani said. He said the Victory 'destroyed' the Wanderers for 60 minutes when the teams met at the same venue in March, only to fade in what were humid conditions to lose 4-2. 'The scoreline wasn't reflective of the game at all,' the 26-year-old former prodigy said. 'It just really depends on us and how we come out and perform. 'I want to be walking out there and I want to be being booed. I love the gee-up of a good crowd. 'I love going to a packed stadium getting booed. I thrive off that kind of stuff, and winning a game in that type of atmosphere, there's no better feeling.' Despite the Wanderers' forward line including Socceroos striker Brandon Borrello, the in-form Nicolas Milanovic and the dangerous Zac Sapsford, Arzani said the Victory had the 'strongest' attacking arsenal in the competition. 'As a unit we're very dangerous on the break, and we've got a lot of variety,' he said. 'Nikos (Vergos) is very good in the air and really good in the box, `Nish' (Nishan Velupillay) is so explosive and a very good finisher, I'm slowing the game down a little bit and creating chances for the other boys, and you've got 'Zizou' (Zinedine Machach) who's just got a bit of everything. 'At creating chances, I don't think there's a team that comes close to us in this league. Sometimes we have a problem finishing them off, but I don't think there's a frontline that can rival us in this league.' However, Wanderers star Milanovic has just as much confidence in Western Sydney's ability to cause the Victory a host of problems. 'If we keep playing the way we've been playing, that will get us through,' said Milanovic, whose team is unbeaten in its past 12 games. 'It's been about the chemistry and confidence that we've built in each other. In the second half of the season, everything has been in motion for everyone. 'Our defence is working together, our attack is working together and that has been a big part of us going on this unbeaten run. 'There is no team in the league that transitions from defence to attack like us. That's a big weapon for us going into this finals series.'
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wanderers come from behind for big ALM victory
Western Sydney will enter the international break as the A-League Men's undisputed form team after coming from behind to break Melbourne Victory's hearts with a 4-2 win in Parramatta. With only three minutes to play in regulation time on Saturday night, substitute Nicolas Milanovic put the Wanderers on course for their comeback win with a left-foot strike from the edge of the box. It was the 23-year-old's ninth goal of a great season, with CommBank Stadium erupting as the hosts took an unlikely 3-2 lead. Swedish veteran Marcus Antonsson iced the result loping into the box on a counterattack to seal an emphatic win in added time. Nicolas Milanovic is just a different breed 🔴😮💨The 23-year-old notches his ninth goal of the season and was sure to make a statement with his celebration 👕 — Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) March 15, 2025 Western Sydney had trailed 2-0 just before halftime but will now finish the weekend in third place on the ladder and are undefeated in their past six games. The Wanderers faithful had fallen silent when Socceroos duo Daniel Arzani and Nishan Velupillay helped put the visitors up 2-0. Velupillay weaved past Gabe Cleur for a shot from the left side of the area, before Arzani's masterly cross to Reno Piscopo seven minutes later had the Victory well on top. But after hitting back through Bozhidar Kraev minutes later, the Wanderers looked poised to cash in after weathering a storm just after the break. Anthony Pantozopoulos and Alex Bonetig each came to goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas' rescue to parry away would-be Victory goals at point-blank range just after the half. With 15 minutes to play in regulation time, Brandon Borrello celebrated his call-up to Tony Popovic's Socceroos squad for the upcoming round of World Cup qualifiers. Borrello breaks his goal drought ✨Brandon Borrello have got @wswanderersfc flippin' back into the game 💨Watch #WSWvMVC LIVE on Paramount+ 📺 — Paramount+ Australia (@ParamountPlusAU) March 15, 2025 The 29-year-old forward had curled a shot above the woodwork minutes earlier but made no mistake with his header after substitute Alex Gersbach crossed into the area. It broke a 10-game scoring drought for Borrello that had stretched back to December. Victory never again had the wealth of chances they enjoyed early in the second half as the Wanderers went into party mode late.
