Alessandro Circati has had enough of the Socceroos being underdogs.
Now he hopes a World Cup campaign where Australia have already caused a boilover and their players are attracting attention from big clubs can help shed that tag.
Parma defender Circati has been linked to Atletico Madrid, while 18-year-old Lucas Herrington has attracted attention from Barcelona.
The 22-year-old hopes it means the world is starting to recognise Australia's talent, ahead of a clash with co-hosts the United States in Seattle on Friday (5am Saturday AEST) headlined by pundits writing the Socceroos off.
"I hope we're starting to gain a little bit more respect," Circati said on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST).
"I don't want to be the underdogs for the rest of my life. I want to be a team which everyone faces like 'oh, we've got to play Australia.'
