Degenek now has 14 appearances for J-League side Yokohama F. Marinos and is enjoying his game time for the Socceroos.

The 23-year-old also lamented the management of 1860 Munich who now have a problem as owner Hassan Ismaik refused to pay licencing fees required to play in 3.Liga after being relegated from 2.Bundesliga in 2016/17.

“I timed that move real well, it turns out real well for me because I’m playing every week thank god and I’m doing well,” Degenek said.

 

“I’m getting my chances at the Socceroos to play and getting called up. If I wasn’t playing at 1860 Munich and we got relegated, I highly doubt I’d be here right now.

“I’ve kept a close eye on it (1860), it’s actually disappointing for one of the biggest, most traditional clubs in Germany to get relegated into the fourth league.

“That’s what happens when you have owners at a club who don’t want to listen or take note about what’s going around in the club. They just worry about themselves and that’s what happens to clubs.

“Japanese is a difficult language, but the basic football things I’m picking up and learning. Football’s a world language so you don’t really need to speak that much.”

Degenek chases Taison in Australia's 4-0 loss to Brazil. By Matthew Morden Photography

Degenek now looks forward to the 2017 Confederations Cup in Russia where they face Germany, Cameroon and Chile.

The Socceroos were thumped 4-0 by Brazil in their final farewell game in Melbourne before leaving on Wednesday.

He wasn’t buying into the idea Germany would be an easy opponent despite the young team Joachim Low has brought to Russia.

Captain Julian Draxler is the most capped player with 30 games in Germany’s squad.

“The Germans could name about 14 sides if they wanted to for the Confeds Cup and they’d still be world class teams, that just shows how good their teams are and the national team has great depth,” he said.

“I could help the team with certain things because I played with two or three boys in the national team for Germany who are regulars now, I know them inside-out, any advice or anything I can do to help the team it’s no problem.

“Any team you go to play against in the Confeds will be a tough game because all the teams there for a reason to win a trophy, it’s not just an alibi tournament where you get there and have a kick around and leave, it’s a tournament you want to win.”