Lucas: We've Won Respect

To see the Roos ahead of tonight's clash...

Australia face Uzbekistan in an Asian Cup semi-final at Khalifa Stadium tomorrow having learnt the lessons from four years ago when an underwhelming campaign ended in a penalty shoot-out defeat to Japan.

Having also performed with distinction in South Africa last summer, Australia's current situation is a far cry from their days in the Oceania Football Confederation when they routinely thrashed Pacific Island sides only to then lose in World Cup play-offs against teams from Asia or South America.

"We're definitely taken a lot more seriously," said Neill.

"Your coach wouldn't want to release you to play Samoa and then realise you've beaten them 7-0 or 12-0, but now we're playing in games where scouts from all over the world are coming to try and pick talent.

"There's lot of respect to be had from playing in a tournament like this and playing against opposition like this all the time.

"There is a lot of credibility but it also gives us the opportunity to enter tournaments and host tournaments, so it's great for us for raising the bar in our country and, as a player, I've been privileged to represent my country in tough games.

"It's given us a lot more competitive games. It was never easy to go out and play Fiji and be respected for winning 8-0, 10-0, whereas now, every game we go into there is a different mentality because many teams think that we are favourites."

Australia coach Osieck will have a full-strength squad to pick from, but opposite number Vadim Abramov has scant regard for the reputation of a side boasting talent from across Europe's top leagues.

"My team has many experienced players, this may be our first time in the semi-finals but they've played many big games before. Australia are a good team but they are not Brazil," said the Uzbekistan boss.

"Before we came to this tournament I told all of Uzbekistan that we're going to win this tournament and that still stands. Why not? Japan beat Argentina, why can't Uzbekistan beat Australia?

"Everyone has the same chance before the start of game. It's 50/50."

Defender Odil Akhmedov agreed with his coach's assessment, saying: "I'm very happy that we have qualified for the semi-finals but we're not going to stop here.

"We're going to go to the final to win the cup. The main thing is that our coach told us before the tournament that we can beat many teams in Asia, we had the belief that we could do it and now we're here in the semi-finals.

"We know the Australian team very well and we're not afraid of them. All the semi-finalists are strong and if we were a weak team, we wouldn't have got to the semi-finals."

To see the Roos ahead of tonight's clash...