In an exclusive interview with Sportal, the 37-year-old spoke of his desire to play at a higher level, hit out at former Australia boss Pim Verbeek's critics, backed new manager Holger Osieck and tipped former Melbourne Victory shot-stopper Mitchell Langerak for success.

Schwarzer had his dream move to the Gunners blocked by manager Mark Hughes who refused to let the inaugural Australian Footballer of the Year leave Craven Cottage despite their persistent enquiries.

"It was a very pleasant surprise to see someone like Arsenal was interested in me," Schwarzer said.

"After having many many discussions with Fulham, unfortunately it did not work for me. That is the way it is and I just have to get my head down and play and train as best as I can.

"Let's just see what the future holds," the former Middlesbrough 'keeper said, hinting at a possible move in the January transfer window.

He bemoaned the missed opportunity, saying the motivation was about 'personal ambition and opportunity to play at a higher level' but added he had no ill-feeling towards Fulham.

"Fulham have been fantastic to me and the fans have been unbelievable towards me, particularly after all the transfer speculation. I'm under contract and I have just got to concentrate on playing my best for Fulham."

Schwarzer refused to blame Verbeek for Australia's 2010 FIFA World Cup failure and said the players need to take responsibility for the 4-0 thumping they received in the first group match against Germany, who eventually finished in third place.

"People have obviously singled out the manager for the game but I think every single player that took to the pitch that day has to take responsibility for the way we performed," he said.

"I think he was criticized a lot, unfairly. I don't think he received the credit he should have received. Pim is a really good manager and a good coach and I think we did very well with him over the last two or three years."

The Australian No.1 said the enthusiasm that new boss Osieck had for the game was encouraging.

"It is very early but so far it's been very good," he said.

"You can see his enthusiasm for the game, you can see his determination to be successful and he has got a real hunger. He is very very passionate and the guys have responded really well."

Six Hyundai A-League players have been included in Osieck's first match in charge on home soil, when the Socceroos host Paraguay on Saturday night in Sydney and Schwarzer believes there is no negative to selecting domestic players.

He added: "The manager is going to pick players he believes that are good enough to play in the national team.

"If players are good enough to play for the national team because of the way they are performing week in week out with their club team then they should be there, regardless of what league they play in around the world."

"To me it doesn't make any difference."

His former boss, Roy Hodgson, is now in charge at under-fire Liverpool who occupy one of three spots in the Premier League relegation zone after a surprise 2-1 home loss to newly promoted Blackpool at Anfield.

But Schwarzer is tipping Hodgson to turn things around.

"He is the man who can really turn Liverpool into a top class team. Hopefully he is given the time he needs," he said.

"I know things haven't been as rosy as maybe it looks from the outside from day one and I think it's been very, very difficult for Liverpool. The manager is a top class manager."

Schwarzer spent time in Germany with Dynamo Dresden and Kaiserslautern in his younger days and is tipping Langerak's stint with Borussia Dortmund will teach him a lot about his game.

"It is a big step up for him leaving Melbourne Victory and going to Borussia Dortmund," he said.

"I'm sure he is going to learn a hell of a lot. I think he is a very talented goalkeeper from what I've seen and he has got a big future in the game if he continues to progress like I've seen so far."