Tim Cahill says Australia's success as a fledgling football nation comes down to the fact that there are no egos within the playing group.

The Everton star used Blackburn Rovers midfielder Brett Emerton as a prime example when explaining that all the Socceroos are simply down to earth characters.

Emerton, Australia's fourth-highest capped player, started Tuesday's Asian Cup semi-final against Uzbekistan on the bench as Brisbane Roar captain Matt McKay kept his place after the Rovers man was suspended for the quarter-final win over Iraq.

But Cahill said that Emerton was a complete professional about his situation and proved it by coming on and scoring a late goal in the 6-0 drubbing of the Uzbeks.

"Emmo is a professional and a gentleman," Cahill said.

"He plays in one of the biggest leagues in the world... but it's like any player, nothing's in stone.

"I'm not in the starting line-up, Lucas (Neill) is not in the starting line-up, we're not special, we don't have egos, that's why we (Australia) are successful."