Skipper Mark Viduka hailed the never-say-die attitude of Australia after they came from behind to draw 2-2 with Croatia and seal their passage into the knockout stages.

Harry Kewell struck 11 minutes from time to draw the Socceroos level and Viduka heaped praise on his international team-mate.

"It feels great," he said. "What a great game, you could not ask for more.

"We threw on all the forwards to try and get something and thank god Harry (Kewell) was in the right place at the right time."

Croatia coach Zlatko Kranjcar was left to lament his side's wasteful finishing, saying: "My team played the best they could but we failed to get the result we needed.

"It was a dramatic and dynamic match and we missed our chances. I want to congratulate Australia."