Socceroos’ striker Tim Cahill was already putting his side’s 1-0 loss to South Korea behind him when he spoke to reporters after the game, preferring to focus on the next challenge.
The defeat means Australia will now face China in Brisbane on the 22nd of January and could meet Japan in the semi-finals, making the run to the finals appear a difficult task.
Cahill was rested for the South Korea match, but was his usual bustling self when he came on late in the second half.
He was unable to find the equalising goal which would have seen Australia top the group, however.
"We now have to get up and go again," he said.
"We've got China in five days and the way I see it we did not take our chances tonight and if we had taken one of them we would have been on our way to Melbourne.
"That was not to be but we still have a lot left in the tournament and tonight it would have been good to get that result."
"If we got the draw we deserved it would have been fine. Korea are a good football team and played really well, they crowded their third of the pitch and were physical."
Cahill received a yellow card when he clashed into South Korean goalkeeper Kim Jin Hyeon as he attacked a ball into the box, though he said he was only thinking about scoring.
"For me it was unfortunate because I wanted to score," he said.
"I jumped for the ball and protected myself and I think the referee acted because the goalkeeper got a cramp for his scream so he stayed on the ground for five minutes.
"It's no big deal, these things happen."
The Socceroos will face China PR in the Quarter-Finals of the AFC Asian Cup at Brisbane Stadium on Thursday 22 January (8.30pm local kick off). Click here to purchase tickets.
