Milos Degenek was about as beaming as Milos Degenek gets after the Socceroos thrashed Oman 5-0 in a desolate Al Maktoum Stadium, with good reason.

The centreback has had a star-turn this year, eclipsing the likes of Trent Sainsbury and Mark Milligan in a sensational campaign domestically, and he topped off the New Year celebrations with one of the finest-looking goals in Socceroos history. 

Yeah we said it.

"My 20th game and first goal before such a big tournament gives me a lot of confidence," Degenek said post-match.

"We put a statement out and I think we could have scored more.

"I don't think we're going to take our foot off the gas. We're going to try to push high, suffocate teams and not allow the opposition to gain any rhythm. It's not possible to press for 90 minutes, but we're going to try our best."

It hasn't always been this easy for the 24-year-old. 

Degenek started his career with much promise at VfB Stuttgart before failing to make a first team appearance, dropping down with mixed success to the 2.Bundesliga with a crisis-stricken 1860 Munich side, then trevailing all the way to Japan, just to make it back to Europe.

But given the road he's taken to get here, when looking at the year to come, Degenek is likely take on 2019 with the same modest self-assurance with which he took Australia's fourth goal. 

"Yeah it was a bit hit and hope," he grinned. 

"I had eight games in European qualifiers, plus the Champions League, it's massive. I come here with more confidence because I'm playing at a very high level.

"I'm really enjoying my life at the moment."