DOHA, Qatar (AP) — If Australia has learned the lessons of its disastrous debut at the Asian Cup, beating defending champion Iraq in Saturday's quarterfinal will go a long way to proving it.
Four years ago, the Australia team was derided as overconfident and under-prepared as it lost a penalty shootout to Japan in the last eight. It only scrambled that far after a draw with Oman and a defeat against Saturday's opponent Iraq in the group stage.
Captain Lucas Neill insisted the events of 2007 will have no bearing on Saturday's game.
"They've got four years more experience, they're still very talented, very fit, well organized," Neill said Friday. "We're a different team from four years ago too.
"We're playing with confidence and belief. We know if we win this game, we're here until the end. We're very excited about it. We know they have players we have to keep an eye on, but so do we."
Australia made it out of its group fairly comfortably this time, thrashing India 4-0, drawing with South Korea, and seeing off a determined Bahrain 1-0.
Iraq was hailed as a symbol of national unity when it surprised the established Asian football powerhouses by winning the title in 2007 with a win over Saudi Arabia in the final.
This time around, it bounced back from an opening defeat against Iran to beat the United Arab Emirates and North Korea and set up a meeting with Australia, the top-ranked team at the Asian Cup.
The two teams have met four times since 2005, each winning twice, but Iraq coach Wolfgang Sidka isn't underestimating the size of the task on Saturday.
"They have big names in their team, they are tall, they are tough, they are physically strong," Sidka said. "Australia is ranked about 26. We are about 100. There is a big gap. We must close it tomorrow. Let no one see there is a gap."
After the win over North Korea, Iraqi fans took to the streets in Baghdad to celebrate, ignoring warnings broadcast on state television and firing celebratory gunfire into the air.
A recent surge of suicide bombings has created renewed instability in the country and increased the pressure on Iraq's football team to provide a distraction from the daily struggles.
Defender Ali Erhaima acknowledged there is a "lot of expectation our shoulders," and added: "We are playing for the happiness of our people and our fans."
Since the game against North Korea, Sidka said he has focused on his players' recovery, aware that Australia has had an extra day of rest.
However, it is Australia's campaign that has been marred by injuries and suspension. Brett Emerton will sit out the Iraq game after picking up two yellow cards in the group stage, but Tim Cahill, Luke Wilkshire and David Carney are all expected to make the team after recovering from injuries.
"I can assure you the boys are ready," coach Holger Osieck said. "Cahill got a knock on his thigh (against Bahrain) which is very painful but our medical team did a great job. He will definitely be on the pitch tomorrow."
Saturday's match pits Osieck against fellow German Sidka.
"We know each other very well and we respect each other," Sidka said. "I just met him in the cafeteria. We talked, we kidded a little bit, but tomorrow there's no joking or kidding. He will take it seriously, I will take it seriously, and after the match we will shake hands."
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