"To do something challenging like this, I think the rewards are potentially very, very high. As a nation in footballing terms, it’s in the top 10 so I am very excited by the challenge.

"I've been around football a long time and there are changes with coaches. Coaches come and go. My job is to focus on what's in front of me and what I can control.

"What I can control is that from Saturday onwards, we will be best prepared as possible to make an impact at such a prestigious tournament."

Milicic has yet to speak to any of his squad beyond the the three Brisbane Roar players at today's press conference, preferring instead to speak face to face when training begins at the weekend.

Gallop refused to be drawn on reasons for the change of coach but insisted the FFA was standing by its decision.

"You don't take decisions to change coaches unless you have good reason and hard decisions are difficult," he said. "This has been particularly difficult. I acknowledge that.

"We've now got an opportunity to go forward, to create an environment where the team can perform to their best...and that's what we're going to focus on."

He admitted his own job, and that of head of national performance Luke Casserly, had come under fire in the wake of the crisis, but insisted that was nothing new.

He added: "Week in, week out, you're in a position where what you do is reviewed. It's a position that is under scrutiny and we're all used to that, Luke included.

"The important thing now is get on with the Cup of Nations and say that this team is in the best possible shape to do well at the World Cup."