Australia's soccer hero reveals getting call from Brett Lee

Berlin, June 13 (UNI) Australia's return to World Cup finals after a 32-year hiatus seems to have created a euphoria back home and hero of the Socceroos' 3-1 win against Japan Tim Cahill revealed getting a call from celebrity cricketer Brett Lee wishing the side luck.

Soccer players in Australia are poor cousins of their counterparts in cricket or rugby but things are changing for the better as Australia returned to the World Cup for the first time since 1974.

Talking to reporters afrer powering his side to a come-from-behind win, Cahill said the victory had elevated the soccer players' status back home.

''It's great to be up there with the cricketers and the rugby players. We watch them in their World Cups, and now they are obviously watching us,'' said the Everton player.

''I had a telephone call from Brett Lee to wish us luck. This is right up there with the best moment of my career. Just by qualifying against Uruguay (in 1974) we were heroes. But to come back like this and do what we did just shows the great Aussie fighting spirit,'' he added.

While Cahill struck twice, John Aloisi scored the third goal for Australia in the match against Japan.

Cahill also scored the first goal ever scored by Australia in the world cup finals for they could not register a single goal in their three matches in 1974.

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