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DOHA, Qatar (AP)—Uzbekistan coach Vadim Abramov discount ugg boot came out fighting on Monday ahead of his side’s Asian Cup semifinal match against an Australia team he regards as “good but not Brazil.” The Uzbeks have been widely labeled as underdogs in Tuesday’s encounter with Australia, which is the top-ranked team in Asia and beat Uzbekistan twice in qualifying for the 2010 World Cup. But while Australia may play in predominantly yellow shirts, that is where the comparisons with five-time world champion Brazil end, according to Abramov. “Uzbekistan can play also, no problem,” he said. “Before this tournament, I said we could win the cup. That hasn’t changed. “Japan beat Argentina (in an October friendly), so why can’t Uzbekistan beat Australia? It’s 50-50. Each team has the same chance.” Both sides are playing their first Asian Cup semifinal. Australia went out in the last eight on its debut in 2007. Uzbekistan’s previous best was quarterfinal appearances in 2004 and 2007. Australia was one of the pre-tournament favorites, thanks to a squad including Premier League stars Tim Cahill and Mark Schwarzer and several other players with European experience. It negotiated its group without ever really hitting top form, and then overcame an obdurate Iraq side in the quarterfinals with a Harry Kewell goal three minutes from the end of extra time. In those four matches, Holger Osieck’s team has conceded one goal, but scored only seven—four of those against India. Uzbekistan midfielder Odil Ahmedov believes his 2010 handbag team can exploit Australia’s weaknesses, where others have failed. “We know the Australia team very well and we’re not afraid of them,” he said. “I noticed Iraq and other teams had many chances to score against Australia but they couldn’t do it. I think we can do it better. “I’m very happy to have reached the semifinals but we’re not going to stop here. We’re going to go to the final and to get our cup.” Australia has been wary of making such bold statements at this tournament, having been accused of overconfidence in 2007, but coach Osieck thinks his team is “strong enough” to beat Uzbekistan. “We don’t really feel pressure,” he said. “There’s a kind of excitement about the game, it’s going to be an interesting and challenging one. “We know what we can do. We’ve had our talks, we have our plan. I know our boys are in position to transfer everything onto the pitch.” Osieck confirmed that Cahill, who came off at the end of normal time against Iraq with a thigh injury, would start against Uzbekistan, which also has no injury worries. Goalkeeper Schwarzer will make his 87th appearance for Australia, equaling the record set by Alex Tobin and underlining the experience Australia has at its disposal. Captain Lucas Neill, the 32-year-old former Blackburn and Everton fullback, believes the switch to the Asian confederation from Oceania and the opportunity to play at the Asian Cup can only help further improve Australian football. “It’s a great opportunity for us to win a trophy,” he said. “I don’t think we’ve ever been able to say that as a nation. “(The switch to Asia) has been very good for us, it’s Nike Dunk SB Low Shoes given us a lot more competitive games to play. It wasn’t easy to be respected when you went to Fiji and won 8-0. There’s a lot of respect to be gained from playing tournaments like this. For the game, it’s great for confidence and raising the bar in the level of performance in Australia.”