Neill proud of achievement

Qantas Socceroo captain Lucas Neill is proud to achieved another piece of Australian football history, after qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa.

DOHA, June 6 AAP - Qantas Socceroo captain Lucas Neill is proud to achieved another piece of Australian football history, after qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa.

Australia booked their ticket to the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa with a scoreless draw against a determined Qatar at the Al Sadd Club in Doha on Saturday night.

Needing only a point to officially seal qualification, the Qantas Socceroos did what was required against a youthful Qatar side to ensure back-to-back World Cup appearances for the first time.

It will be only Australia's third World Cup after appearances in 1974 and 2006 and they will be joined by Asian rivals Japan and South Korea, who also qualified on Saturday with wins over Uzbekistan and the UAE respectively.

"It's amazing, it hasn't sunk in yet," captain Lucas Neill said after the match.

"But it's an unbelievable achievement.

"To be the second or third team into the World Cup is truly an honour.

"I'm so proud we've created some history for the country and we can sit back now and see who's going to join us."

Qatar proved tougher opposition than they had in three previous losses, but Australia could feel unlucky not have won after having several efforts saved by Qatari goalkeeper Qasem Burhan.

"It's a bit strange, you don't really have the feeling that you qualified for the World Cup, that feeling will come in the coming days," Verbeek said.

"The boys are feeling fantastic , I think they did a great job, very professional job.

"It was not an easy job today, I think Qatar made it very difficult for us."

Neill will miss the Bahrain game after picking up what he admitted was a "tactical" yellow card with a tackle on Quintana late in the game.

"I left it at late as a could," he said.

"It was probably a borderline orange but I want to play the Japan game and the only way to do that was to make sure I miss the Bahrain game."