Neil: I wasn't up to scratch at the Asian Cup.

[Toke-E-Yo]

Lucas Neill has admitted that he wasn’t at his best during Australia’s ill-fated Asian Cup campaign in the summer.
Lucas Neill: I Wasn't Up To Scratch At Asian Cup
zoom - galleria

The Socceroos exited at the quarter-final stage of their first continental competition, one that was especially tough for the West Ham defender.

Neill was sent off during the team’s 3-1 defeat at the hands of Iraq in the group stage and was at the centre of reported rifts in the Australian camp over his alleged desire to be captain.

"I'm a footballer and I am there to be criticised," Neill told The Australian. "I set a standard for myself and if I don't reach that standard every week then people are entitled to an opinion.

"I can look myself in the mirror. I know I wasn't up to scratch (during the finals). But, I've put it behind me. I've moved on. What happened, happened."

"I'm thick-skinned. I don't need you guys to tell me how good or bad I am. I know," he said. "Did I let it affect me? No. Will I learn from it? Yes."

The former Blackburn Rovers star will don the captain’s armband for Australia’s first game since the Asian Cup – a friendly against Argentina in Melbourne on Tuesday evening.

"It's a fantastic honour to lead the team in a game such as this, not that you need any extra incentives," Neill added. "It's a great responsibility and I hope I can lead the team to a great result." -



what a load of bollocks. why cant he just admit that Australia were lucky in the world cup and over confident in the asian cup?

[Vic]

Australia were rather unlucky then lucky in the World Cup, did you watch the game when they played Italy??

[jelly123]

true we shuld of beaten italy stupid reff it wasnt a foul! anyway lucas neil i dnt really like him alot i think his abit up himself. n lucky well u culd say that bout any team in the world cup theres always luck. Japan jst got on top of us in the asia cup n even then we went to plentys! its true australia isnt brazil but well at least we made it after so long!

[~zero_signal~]

I thought Australia was a bit unlucky in the WC too. The goal Japan scored against them in the first game should have been ruled out. The defence was no where, but it was a foul against the keeper. I thought that Brazil played poorly in their 2-0 win against Australia, and they were lucky that Australia didn't score at least 1 goal. Against Italy, the game was really even, and the referee should have been suspended for making such a terrible decision that resulted in the penalty kick for Italy.

As for Lucas Neill, I thought he was quite good in 1 or 2 games in the WC, and solid overall. I think Australia's main problem in the Asian Cup was that, tactically, the team was a bit messy. The cohesion experienced in the WC wasn't there, and some players didn't look too fit. I think some players over-estimated their chances.

[Wakarahen]

I think its true that Australia were over confident in the Asian Cup, though its far too simplistic to say that this was the only reason for how things turned out.

As for lucky, well, teams who are so blessed invariably make their own luck. It's attitudinal.

[Toke-E-Yo]

I think its true that Australia were over confident in the Asian Cup, though its far too simplistic to say that this was the only reason for how things turned out.

As for lucky, well, teams who are so blessed invariably make their own luck. It's attitudinal.


Sorry, but im pretty sure it was a aussies who bragged that they would not lose any games and let in anygoals...instead, they went out early to a severly diminshed Japanese squad.

Karma is a bitch, aint it?

[Wakarahen]

Hmmm...it would help if you actually read what I wrote before shooting from the hip. I think that you'll find that the Australian team learnt a very hard lesson from the Asian Cup and that you won't see any repeat of that kind of poor form or attitude in the future.

As a footnote, the Socceroos played a full strength Argentina last night and while they lost (1-0), they played very well and a number of the young players blooded in the Asian Cup are stepping up to the mark at last.

I wouldn't count your chickens just yet....