More reflections:

We were rubbish so the people say..and I've said it myself.

But are we that bad really?

We lost on penalties to Japan. On penalties, and we all know shoot-outs can go either way.

So Milligan, Carney, Beauchamp gave us three new defenders to consider for future selections. That is a big plus.

Who's to say Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Adrian Leijer, Dean Heffernan, Matthew Spiranovic, Lucas Neill, Patrick Kisnorbo, Adrian Downes, Neil Kilkenny, Brett Emerton won't give us enough defensive options for the future.

Cahill, Bresciano, Grella, Carle, Valeri, Carney, Emerton, Wilkshire, and one or two boys overseas, Patafta, Broxham or Sarkies may provide enough spark and balance in the midfield.

Kennedy, McDonald, Kewell, Archie, Bridge, Burns, Williams, Djite, and Viduka. A bit short maybe but plenty of hope.

Sure I've missed a few, at least I hope I have!

Better preparation could and should have taken us to play Vietnam. As it was the team were abysmal against Singapore, Iraq, Oman and to a lesser extent Thailand. But we still had an even game against Japan until the send off, no matter Japan played more technically or had slightly more of the ball.

Who could predict who would win when if Grella hadn't been sent off? It was that close. Wasn't it?

So I've never thought we were World Beaters. Five wins out of fifteen prior to this tournament showed that. Any, any fan who has followed the Socceroos know we aren't rated outside the top thirty for nothing.

Also look where our players play. Only Kewell at Liverpool is at a top top club. The rest are in second or third tier clubs albeit in strong leagues.

So when was the last time an Australian team walked over anyone ranked in the top 100. We don't, and we never have, (okay we walked over England) but we can beat many on our day, but it will always be close.

But Australia has recently beaten Iran, Jordan and Saudi Arabia..well we came second in the Olympic qualifiers under Rob Baan. This is our future team, and they've done well.

And we do have plenty of players coming through. No Viduka or Kewell but we have many players desperate to step up.

That gives me hope. And we have football now in Australia, a team to support.

For many years no-one argued if I thought a player should be dropped or the manager sacked.

Most people didn't know who I was talking about.

Everyone has an opinion now and that is the passion required to produce long-term results.

The 2006 World Cup team were and are our football legends. But that has gone and the Asia Cup, WCQ give football fans the prospect of seeing our local players challenged and progressed beyond anything we've ever had before.

When we qualify for the World Cup again it will probably be with a Mark Bridge or Nicky Carle or Mark Milligan in the side. How many will have watched these in the A-League?

Few could say that about the last group of players. Not because they didn't play for Melbourne Knights or Carlton or the Canberra Cosmos, but because few fans or media ever saw them.

More football, more often.

The future is bright for Australian football despite the loss to Japan.

A-League pre-season has started and A-League starts in three weeks. Olympic qualifiers start next week. Womens World Cup after that. No time to mope. The game rolls on.

Enjoy!