Valeri rails against comfort zone

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Qantas Socceroos midfielder Carl Valeri believes the comfort zone is his biggest enemy as he pushes his claims for inclusion in Pim Verbeek's World Cup squad for South Africa.

Valeri, who plays for Grosseto in Italy's Serie B, has been a regular fixture in the Qantas Socceroos squad since Verbeek took over as coach at the start of 2008, but feels he needs to continue to better himself to ensure he makes it to South Africa.

The 25-year-old says has taken the attitude throughout his career that he never wants to settle for the level he is currently playing at and that certainly won't change over the next eight months in the lead-up to next year's tournament.

"I've always got something to prove. I hope I never lose that attitude, because I think every footballer should have that," he said. "No-one should feel comfortable, I hate feeling comfortable, I always feel like I've got to do something. I hate being in the comfort zone."

"I think every time I train, I need to prove myself. I don't feel like I'm a starting XI player in the Australian team. Every time I'm working towards that. You've got to have goals and objectives. It's just that little bit of extra motivation."

Valeri believes that while Australia was able to qualify for the showpiece tournament relatively comfortably, that all of the players should be looking to improve their game over the next few months.

"Everyone has to do a bit more, if everyone does a bit more, it's better for the team. I take on that attitude because that's the attitude I've had since I was little. I always to do well and it's worked well for me so far."

The next step on the journey of improvement takes place this Saturday at Sydney Football Stadium when the Qantas Socceroos take on the Netherlands in a friendly. Valeri is looking forward to the challenge of taking on the world's No.3 ranked side should he be given the chance.

"Playing against top quality opposition like Holland, which is one of the best in the world, at home in Australia, we don't get many chances. It will be a very exciting night," he said.

"They are going to be really tough, and I think maybe even a bit angry that we beat them last time. That's expected."

Australia then takes on Oman at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne next Wednesday, a match which Valeri says is the major short-term goal.

"The important game is Oman because that is a qualifying game. But in saying that, all games are important for us, because we now we have qualified for the World Cup, we've got to use every game as a stepping stone to that, apart from the Oman game, because qualifying for the Asian Cup is important in itself," he said.