Former Socceroo John Aloisi says it is vital for Australia to make the Asian Cup semi finals

FORMER Socceroos striker John Aloisi believes Australia must not spoil its own Asian Cup party, declaring a semi-final berth is critical.

Brett Emerton and John Aloisi with the Asian Cup trophy at Bondi Beach , Bondi .Picture Gregg Porteous

FORMER Socceroos striker John Aloisi believes Australia must not spoil its own Asian Cup party, declaring a semi-final berth is critical to the game’s wellbeing.

With the tournament kick-off just 37 days away Aloisi celebrated the arrival of the Asian Cup trophy on Australian soil yesterday.

“It's important Australia does well at the Asian Cup,” Aloisi said. “I expect us to get at least to the semi-final.

“If we don't it’s a massive disappointment.

“We need to get to the last four and then from there you have to have some luck to go and win it.”

Former Adelaide United attacker Nathan Burns is Aloisi’s tip to make the squad given he leads the A-League scoring chart with seven goals.

“Burns is definitely one to push the case,” Aloisi said.

“He showed in Adelaide what he was capable of doing and now Ernie Merrick is giving him confidence at Wellington Phoenix.”

But Tomi Juric turning up to see the Asian Cup trophy at Bondi Beach yesterday is potentially another sign the former Reds striker is a bolter to lead the lines with Tim Cahill next month.

The Western Sydney Wanderers star talked up the Socceroos chances when he was called up to centre stage before he leaves to make another mark on the world stage at the FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco on Sunday.

Juric and Burns will know if they will be Asian Cup squad members before December 29, the day Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou summons his side.

The Socceroos open the tournament with a clash against Kuwait in Melbourne on January 9.

Aloisi says Postecoglou’s 12-day preparation is vital to the side. “Those 12 days in camp are very important for Ange,” Aloisi said. “In those 12 days he wants to really get the players training and understanding the way he wants to play.”

Aloisi believes Australia will face its toughest group match when it faces South Korea in Brisbane on January 17.

“I know they didn't win any games at the World Cup but I thought they did really well from the back third to the middle third,” he said.

Fox Sports will have a dedicated channel for the January tournament featuring every match live. Fox Sports is also expected to unveil a commentary option with viewers able to select which broadcast team to listen to.

Free-to-air ABC TV will showcase all of the Socceroos group matches on a two-hour delay and Australia’s knockout stages live.

Originally published as Former Socceroo John Aloisi says it is vital for Australia to make the Asian Cup semi finals