Australia have twice reached the semi finals, in 1991 when the Paul Okon-led side which featured Mark Bosnich, Steve Corica and Tony Popovic, lost to eventual winners Portugal, who were led by Luis Figo.

The second occasion was 1993 when the team captained by Kevin Muscat and boasted Craig Moore and Paul Agostino, lost to the almighty Brazil on home soil. Qantas Young Socceroos assistant coach Ante Milicic was one of Australia's stars in the '93 tournament on home soil, finishing equal top scorer with three goals.

Defender Daniel Mullen had barely started walking Australia last reached the semi finals, but his first memory of the Young Socceroos where he watched alongside his dad, former Socceroo Joe Mullen, led him to dream about playing in a FIFA U-20 World Cup.

 "It was back in 2003 I remember watching it with my dad on TV and I had just started pre season with my club and my whole drive for that year was to, it was a far away goal, but to get to an Under 20 World Cup,'' Mullen said of the team which included the likes of Scott McDonald, Carl Valeri and Mile Jedinak.

 "It wasn't even realistic then because I wasn't even in any of the state teams but it was something that was deep inside me and I've always wanted it since.

 "I remember watching it and just wanted to be a part of it and since then it's been my biggest goal in the short term.

 "The under 20 World Cup is a starting point for a lot of kids' careers and this is where you can get a lot of experience and bring it back to our clubs and hopefully grow as players.

"It's happened to the likes of Kevin Muscat and Ante Milicic, who I've always looked up to as a player when he was overseas then playing in the Hyundai A-League and now he's one of our coaches.''

None of the Qantas Young Socceroos have featured at a World Cup at any level and consequently have been picking their assistant coach's brain as to what it's like to play in such a tournament.

Milicic, who went on to make six Socceroos appearances, has been happy to oblige but has also challenged the players to surpass his own team's feats.

"Since we've been in Egypt and had meetings with FIFA and seeing the games on TV and things in the media, there's more a of a buzz and the players are starting to talk about who's played for Australia, how well they've gone over the years and who's gone on to the Socceroos,'' Milicic said.

"A lot of boys have come up to me and asked about my team and most of them are pretty excited because now they see what kind of level this is.

"I was fortunate enough to get to the semis back in '93 and to think we've only done it twice, in '91 and '93, that's 16 years ago and the boys are smart enough to realise now it's time. It's well overdue for Australia to get a good result at this level.

 "I know a lot of the boys joke with me and say 'Ante, you'll be the first player and assistant to make the semi finals'.

 "Well why not set yourself high standards? And I think that's what the players are doing. Quietly the boys are confident that they can do well and it just gives them something to strive for.

  "The squads are a lot better prepared than they were back in those days when we achieved those results too.''

All Qantas Young Socceroos matches at the FIFA U-20 World Cup will be broadcast live and exclusive on SBS TV