The Joeys confirmed their place in the knockout rounds with a game to spare as 5-0 and 3-1 wins over Timor Leste and Vietnam respectively put them as one of the favourites to qualify for the final four.

However, if their quarter-final is anything to go by, things may not fall into place all that easily for Versleijen.

In a tense 126 minutes, which the Dutch coach later compared to an Alfred Hitchcock movie, the Australians went behind 2-0 to the United Arab Emirates in the first half.

They needed a late rally, concluding in a stoppage-time equaliser and an extra-time winner - both scored by substitute Giancarlo Gallifuoco - to secure their progress as well as a FIFA U-17 World Cup berth.

And Versleijen, who promised to provide a starting role for Gallifuoco in Thursday’s clash at Pakhtakor Stadium was again blunt on his analysis of the next game.

“It’s a funny feeling now,” he said.

“We’ve qualified for the World Cup but we still have games to play. In that sense, the semi-final and final are effectively two separate tournaments respectively.

“But if we win the next match, and go to the final, then we have the chance to be the champions of Asia and that’s a really big thing.

“For Australia, this is a historic moment as it’s the first time since joining the AFC that both our under-19 and under-16 teams reached the semi-finals of the Asian championship.”

Versleijen also maintained he was aware of Uzbekistan’s strengths, adding there was a cracking game on the cards.

He said: “We played Uzbekistan two years ago during the under-19s in the group stage. Back then we drew, and it was quite an even game.

“We expect that tomorrow will also be an even contest and a difficult game.

“Our players have to prepare mentally as well as physically. They have to concentrate and get the right result.”