Bani Yas midfielder Mark Milligan has admitted they’ll be no “love lost” in the battle against club-mate Amer Abdulrahman when Australia face the UAE during World Cup 2018 qualification
The nations were among the six drawn in Group B yesterday for the third and final round, with two automatic spots and a potential intercontinental play-off berth up for grabs.
Milligan, 30, and Abdulrahman, 26, have played side-by-side this term in the Arabian Gulf League. But the former insisted all Sky Blues ties will be cast to one side in the race to Russia.
.@Socceroos it is! So #UAE also face #Thailand, #Iraq, @SaudiNT & @jfa_samuraiblue. Tough group. Games with Saudis look key #wcq @Sport360
— Matt Monaghan (@mattmonaghan360) April 12, 2016
He said: “Amer is a very good player and a talented one. I enjoy playing in midfield with him here, but I don’t think they’ll be too much love lost when we play against each other.
“I love playing for my country and I know it is the same for him. I am sure it will be a very good battle.
Ange Postecoglou’s side are hot favourites to reach a fourth-successive World Cup.
Their recent record against the UAE has seen them inflict a 2-0, semi-final defeat on the way to the 2015 Asian Cup. A friendly in the preceding October was goalless.
“It is a tough group and it presents some interesting challenges for us,” said Milligan, who joined Bani last summer on a two-year deal.
“At Bani Yas, there has already been plenty of chat about the draw. I think the UAE boys will be very excited to have drawn us, as well.”
The UAE host the Socceroos on September 6 this year, with the return clash Down Under set for March 28, 2017.
