The Socceroos returned to Australia today after their qualifying-clinching scoreless draw in Qatar with a positive attitude for the World Cup in South Africa next year.
Socceroos and Everton midfielder Tim Cahill said reaching successive World Cups was a "dream come true."
"The first time we were going into the unknown but now everyone expects us to do better than last time," Cahill said Monday. "Who knows what can happen in World Cup?"
Next year's tournament will be Australia's second straight World Cup appearance and third overall following its debut in West Germany in 1974. Cahill was one of the stars of the team that reached the second round at Germany 2006 before losing to eventual champion Italy on a contentious late penalty.
Australia coach Pim Verbeek said the aim for this Socceroos team was to improve on the second-round exit in the finals.
"We all have the same target - to do better than the 2006 World Cup," Verbeek said. "I don't say we are going to do it, but that's our target. I think the boys will be ready."
Australia plays Bahrain on Wednesday in Sydney before closing its Asian group qualifying play with a match in Melbourne on June 17 against Japan, which has also qualified for South Africa 2010 on Saturday.
Australia and Japan have identical records at the top of the group, but Australia leads on goal difference. Verbeek said Australia wants to remain there.
"We want to be No. 1 in this group," Verbeek said. "We want to show the fans we deserve to go to the World Cup. They know it already, but we want to show them."
Australia captain Lucas Neill said qualifying for another World Cup was just as satisfying as his first.
"In a funny kind of way, it's even more rewarding," he said, "because it is harder to do the second time."
He described Australia's qualifying campaign as "very clinical" and "almost perfect."
Neill won't be playing Wednesday against Bahrain, admitting that he ensured he received a "tactical" yellow card in the final minutes against Qatar. He was already sitting on one yellow card, meaning he will sit out Australia's next match.
But it also means he will start the Japan match with a clean sheet, free from any concern of picking up a second yellow in Melbourne which would keep him out of the first World Cup game in South Africa next year.
On Monday, Verbeek said Swiss-based Scott Chipperfield had been allowed to go home because of a foot injury, and midfielder Carl Valeri has returned to Italy to help his team Grosseto in its playoff bid to win promotion to Serie A.
