Lucas Neill still feels he has a lot to prove in his football career despite now being 35 years of age.
The Omiya Ardija defender has retained his job as captain of the Australian national team ahead of tonight's friendly against Costa Rica in Sydney and even though he is leading the Socceroos for a record 61st match, he says he is feeling the pressure to perform and lead from the front.
"I have everything to prove - I always do," Neill said.
"I have been a professional footballer since I was 17 so I have known that week-in, week-out ... you have to perform at training; you have to perform every time you get picked.
"So none of this is new to me.
"Probably because of the change (of coach), there has been a lot of hype and it's probably best left unsaid now, and we get on with concentrating on what is most important, and that is the football tomorrow."
