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Asian Cup upstarts United Arab Emirates demand total respect from Australia as the host nation edge closer to creating soccer history, attacker Robbie Kruse says.
The UAE stunned defending champion Japan to set up a semi-final clash with the Socceroos on Tuesday in Newcastle.
The Emirates were given scant chance pre-match against the Blue Samurai but won on penalties, leaving the Socceroos both impressed and wary.
Kruse says the Australians are under no illusions about their next challengers.
“We saw the (UAE) game last night and maybe it was an upset,” Kruse told reporters in Newcastle on Saturday.
“It’s going to be a difficult game and we will just focus on our game plan and stick to that and hopefully we will be right.
“Some people may say we’re already in the final but we’re not looking at it like that. It’s going to be tough.”
Kruse said the Socceroos were well aware they were just two wins from delivering Australia its most meaningful soccer silverware.
“We can be the first team to win major silverware here in Australia, and to do it on our home soil is something special,” he said.
“So it has always been the focus to come here and get the job done – and the job is to win the tournament.
“In saying that, we take each game as it comes.
“UAE on Tuesday … we will show them the respect they deserve, they have just knocked over the reigning champions, they have got some great individual quality.
“There are no easy teams in world football. You have seen plenty of upsets and plenty of games where teams are getting pushed all the way to the final whistle.”
Kruse, who missed last year’s World Cup because of a knee reconstruction, has enjoyed an influential tournament but said he had yet to peak.
“Maybe not quite there fully but I’m getting pretty close,” he said.
“Obviously the game time is going to help me get better and better and I feel like I’m doing fairly well in the tournament and so are we collectively as a group.
“That is what it’s about. We don’t focus too much on the individual.
“We try to stick to the principles that the boss sets out. We have been doing that and getting the results and playing some good football.”
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