Dubai: Australia captain Gregory Giovenali hailed his team’s spirit which saw them setting up dates against Japan in the AFC Futsal Championship semifinal and a place in FIFA Futsal World Cup.

“It’s exciting, a team with three months part time training and amateurs players are playing in the World Cup. The credit goes to boys and the gaffer who ensured that we do wonders in this tournament,” said the Futsalroos’ industrious captain.

For Giovenali, to sand aside with Asia’s cream and play the semifinal is itself a big achievement but the FIFA berth in the World Cup has been icing on the cake.

“Now we have convinced people that Australia are serious on futsal, they don’t only play for fun. We came here in Dubai to get at least in the semifinal but not for holiday so now our target is to beat Japan and play in the final.

“This is the beginning. Credit to AFC for organizing these tournaments and credit to Australia futsal, we have climbed up one more step but it does not end here.

“The toughest challenges are ahead and we should not continue like what we have been doing in past, we need to improve and get more serious in futsal.”