It was then-Blacktown Demons coach Brian Brown who picked out a teenager called Mark Milligan as a player of the future four seasons ago.

Milligan justified Brown's judgment in his two seasons with the Demons, and Sydney FC confirmed it when they signed the youngster.

However, Brown mightn't have known just what a future was ahead for his protege.

Milligan is now the Olyroos captain and headed home the second half clincher in Australia's 2-0 win over Iraq in Gosford on Saturday night.

The Olyroos now need a draw against North Korea in Pyongyang tomorrow to qualify for Beijing.

They went into the match against Iraq needing to win.

Milligan told The Sydney Morning Herald after the Gosford match Australia were approaching games with the mentality that "you must not allow the opposition to suck you in with their antics.

"It's a mentality we've developed and the referee was great.

"He set an early example by not letting the game get bogged down. Iraq tried to slow the game down but we didn't get frustrated or sucked in by their tactics."

Mulligan might well have thought the refereeing was great.

There were plenty who thought he was lucky to stay on the field after what looked suspiciously like an elbow to the Iraqi goalkeeper's jaw when Australia led 1-0.

Having elbowed Iraq out of the way, Australia must now cope with Pyongyang's freezing temperature and artificial grass.

Milligan said complacency wouldn't be a problem.

"The boys all know it's a job that's only half done," he said.

"We can't get too excited about beating Iraq because we haven't much time in which to rest and prepare. We're already focused on the game against North Korea."