Youth jibe was to motivate: Neill Lucas Neill was on the defensive after his comments earlier in the week. Lucas Neill made it clear no one, himself included, was entitled to a Socceroos jersey when he declared it was an honour that needed to be earned regardless of age or reputation. Neill became a man under siege after last week's 6-0 loss to France - even though the statistics posted on Football Federation Australia's website from that match indicated he was Australia's best-performed defender. The anti-Neill campaign intensified in the lead-up to the 3-0 victory over Canada when he put the acid on Australia's younger players to step up and prove they were worthy of a place in the national side. The 35-year-old, who has represented Australia on 95 occasions (60 as captain), was criticised by commentators Robbie Slater and Mark Bosnich. Both former internationals said he ought to step down from international football and allow a younger player their chance. Slater also slammed Neill for supposedly forming a wedge between the World Cup-bound squad's junior and senior players with his forthright challenge for generation next to step up. Neill, who was in Japan where he plays in the prestigious J League for Omiya Ardija, sent an email to Fairfax Media to clarify his stance on Australia's youth brigade. The Socceroos' effort to beat Canada in London was dismissed by Neill's critics as a "nothing" result because Canada are lowly placed in the world rankings. However, as former Australian captain Paul Wade noted, the nature of the 3-0 victory appeared to be that of a united team firmly behind its skipper. Wade, who represented Australia on 84 occasions between 1986-1996, couldn't fathom the motive behind the attacks on Neill's credentials - or ability - to lead Australia's World Cup campaign. That's why we have under-17s, under-19s and under-23s - if you're good enough you play, if you're not, go and do some more training. I've always questioned why the hell are we giving players a free ticket to a green and gold shirt ... it is not going to happen at the highest level. Wade said few could understand the courage that it would've taken for a person in Neill's position - a player who has had critics condemn him because he is not as quick as when he was 25 - to make such a public challenge. "I nearly teared up, I was that emotional," he said of Neill's stance. I thought 'good on you, write your own headlines instead of putting up with the crap people are firing at you right now'. I thought that was brilliant and when you get people like Robbie Slater and Mark Bosnich shooting bullets I was glad he fired back, I really am.