Socceroos deserve credit, says Cahill

Frustrated Socceroos players claim they - and coach Pim Verbeek - have not been
given the credit they deserve for moving to the cusp of World Cup qualification in
emphatic style.
Australia need only a point from their remaining three matches to secure a spot in
South Africa next year and ensure consecutive finals appearances for the first time.
On paper, they've done it convincingly, having taken 13 of a possible 15 points and
not conceded a goal in the final stage of qualifying.
But some of their performances - and Verbeek's tactics - have attracted criticism,
with concerns the side was playing unattractive and uninspiring football.
Tim Cahill, Australia's World Cup hero in Germany, on Wednesday vented his
frustration at the way the team's performances had been perceived by sections of the
media and public.
"I don't think there's any positives that's been picked up on," Cahill told AAP
shortly after arriving in Dubai to prepare for Sunday's (AEST) clash with Qatar.
"Like the fact that we haven't conceded a goal, we haven't lost a game, we only need
one point out of three games to qualify for the World Cup.
"All we've picked up on is negatives.
"As a player, I find it fickle to hear that, going from never qualifying for the
World Cup to qualifying for two in row.
"I just don't understand the mentality of people and to be honest with you I don't
want to understand.
"Because all I want to do is make sure of it for the kids that are happy in us
qualifying for the World Cup and can appreciate how hard it is."
Cahill, still dealing with the disappointment of Everton's FA Cup final loss to
Chelsea on Saturday, felt it was a case of whatever the Socceroos achieved, people
always expected more.
"That's the thing I can't understand, the expectation level always rises, and we
want it to, but we also want focus on the positives," said Cahill, who is in doubt
to face Qatar because of a hip problem.
"I've not read anything positive about the manager (Verbeek), or really anything
positive about the players and although, to an extent, we haven't spanked teams ...
the situation we're in is a huge positive."
Much of the criticism has been directed at the team's performances away from home
but striker Josh Kennedy believed it was those that had been most significant.
"I think if most people knew what conditions we played in for away games and pitches
and surfaces and how hard it is to get those wins or even get a point over here,
then they'd definitely retract a lot of the statements," he said.
Goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, whose fine performances have helped salvage several
results in the campaign, agreed the perception of the team from some quarters was
"harsh."
"I think people get a bit carried away with themselves and expect this amazing
football to be played every time we go out there and play," he said.
"Even teams that have been successful over a long period of time, there's not many
that do that."
Despite their frustrations, the Socceroos are upbeat about getting the job done
against Qatar in Doha on Sunday morning Australian time.