Joining Asia gave us respect, say Aussie stars

DOHA (AFP) – Australia's switch from Oceania to Asia has been a huge positive for the Socceroos, who have finally earned respect, according to captain Lucas Neill and veteran goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.
Australia defected to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in early 2006 to help improve standards and give them a fairer chance of qualifying for World Cups.
It has also allowed domestic A-League teams access to the lucrative AFC Champions League.
Neill believes they are now reaping the full benefits both on and off the pitch.
"We're definitely taken a lot more seriously," said the Galatasaray defender.
"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 a lot of respect to be had from playing in a tournament like the Asian Cup 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."
Since the switch, Australia have regularly been in the top 30 in the FIFA world ranking, playing at the 2006 and 2010 World Cups.
"It's seen us go up the rankings, seen us go into another World Cup," added Neill.
"It's given us a good lesson in the last Asian Cup and here we are now about to play in our first semi-final in a massive confederation where two thirds of the world are."
Australia face Uzbekistan in the Asian Cup semi-finals in Doha later on Tuesday, with the chance of a first major trophy only two games away.
Schwarzer, who makes his 87th appearance for the Socceroos against Uzbekistan, equalling Alex Tobin's caps record, said there was no question that Australia had improved dramatically since joining the AFC.
"It?s been a must for Australian football to be involved in Asian football and it's been brilliant for us. We've qualified by right for the World Cup and we have deserved to qualify," said the Fulham keeper.
"Being in Asia has lifted our standard as a national team. We have to play at our best all the time.
"Since we have joined Asia and been the number one ranked team we have always had the pressure of, wherever we play or whenever we play, the other team has always seen it as a cup final.
"They are always out to knock us off that perch, which is only natural. I like that situation.
"I like to be under pressure and that we have to perform in every game and that everybody?s on their toes and not taking anything for granted."
Source: Yahoo News

Football's hat-trick hitmen light up Europe

PARIS (AFP) – Manchester United's Dimitar Berbatov led a European parade of hat-trick hitmen that included Arsenal's Robin van Persie, Mario Gomez of Bayern Munich and Sevilla's Luis Fabiano.
Bulgarian star Berbatov bagged his third hat-trick of the season in the 5-0 Old Trafford demolition of Birmingham to take his tally to 18 goals and keep United clear at the top of the Premier League.
His impressive contribution also extended United's 21-game unbeaten run since the season began.
"Dimitar is getting up towards that 20-goal mark, which is going to be important for us," United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said.
Berbatov's hat-trick saw him equal Ruud van Nistelrooy's club record from the 2002-2003 season by scoring three hat-tricks in a season.
He is also only two hat-tricks away from the Premier League record of five scored in a season by Alan Shearer in 1995-1996.
The all-time record is held by United legend Denis Law, who struck seven in the old First Division in 1963-64.
"Dimitar is realising his ability," said Ferguson. "The other players sense it too. They are playing their part in playing with him. He has special qualities."
Van Persie now has six league goals in an injury-curtailed season after his hat-trick in the 3-0 win over Wigan which kept Arsenal on United's shoulder.
The Dutchman could have claimed a fourth but fluffed his penalty attempt.
Van Persie is now back to his best after missing three months with an ankle problem but coach Arsene Wenger insists the striker cannot expect to play every game.
"He's back in form," said Wenger. "He was already fit and sharp last week.
"It's important to have him back but we have plenty of offensive players so let's hope we can keep him fit until the end of the season and it's up to us to use him in the right proportion of games we play.
"He handles it alright. He is intelligent but of course he wants to play."
In Germany, Gomez took his season's league total to 15 with three of the goals in Bayern Munich's 5-1 rout of Kaiserslautern although the defending champions are a massive 14 points behind runaway leaders Borussia Dortmund.
"That's my job, I know what is required of me," said the 25-year-old Gomez.
"And I know things go your way, like they did in the first half, when I hung back a little bit and took my time. It happens when you are going through a purple patch, which I am at the moment."
Brazil's Fabiano hit his hat-trick in the 4-1 win over bottom club Levante to take his seaon's total to eight.
Fabiano, who earlier this month became only the fifth Sevilla player to reach 100 goals for the club, kept his team in a comfortable mid-table position.
His goal-scoring form also boosted the team ahead of Wednesday's Kings Cup semi-final against Real Madrid.
"Every game is a final now and we have to continue playing like this," said Fabiano.
"It will be a great game against Real Madrid and we have to go into the match to get a victory against them and try to go on to retain the Cup.
"They are a great team but we can beat them. We want another title and to leave Madrid empty-handed."

Source: Yahoo News