The American media’s perception of the Socceroos is changing.

Last week, United States football pundit Mike Grella made headlines for completely dismissing Australia as any form of a threat in Group D at the World Cup.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: American media has double take on Socceroos

“I’m not kidding though when I say this, what are they drinking over there? Because they have no shot of doing anything at the World Cup,” Grella said.

“They are the weakest team in the group. The US, although they have their weaknesses, they have like eight players in the Champions League and top clubs in Europe.

“There’s no shot they can compete with the US. The only way they can play is in defence and try to keep it 0-0.

“There’s levels of quality. The US has players who play week in, week out in Europe and Australia does not. It’s as simple as that.”

That was before the Socceroos sent the world a statement by sensationally upsetting group favourites Turkey with a stirring 2-0 win in Vancouver on Sunday (AEST).

Now, Grella’s CBS colleagues are trying to distance themselves from his comments.

Speaking after his country’s 4-1 win over Paraguay, former US goalkeeper Tony Meola said he always saw the Socceroos as a threat.

“I’m most worried about this game than the other two,” Meola said of the Australia matchup.

“Because we had a clear idea of what Paraguay was, right? You didn’t want to go down a goal to Paraguay. They (the US) didn’t do that because then they had to open up and that’s not where they’re best. So we worked that game out.

“I think they’re (Australia) the best pressing team where they want to press. I think athletically they’re really, really good. And I think they’ll be the most disruptive.

“And I know we got this whole thing with Grella and Australia, you know, what (word) did he use, ‘layup’? He called them a layup, whatever it is — I never saw it that way because I don’t think anything is going to be easy.”

Jimmy Conrad, who played 27 times for the USMNT between 2005 and 2010, agreed the world needs to stop underestimating the Aussies.

“Hakan Calhanoglu, the number 10 for Turkey, said before the game against Australia that Turkey was more talented than Australia ... and that worked against them,” Conrad said.

“Everybody just keeps discounting Australia and it seems to be not the right thing to do. So thanks, Grella, we appreciate that.”

The Socceroos face tournament hosts the USA on Saturday at 5am AEST, just eight months on from their 2-1 friendly defeat to them.

It was a fiery, physical game, with USA defender Chris Richards at one point ready to square up to Socceroo Jason Geria after skipper Christian Pulisic was injured in a challenge.

Former US midfielder Benny Feilhaber says that result means little now.

“I just think it’s a different competition, of course. In the World Cup, every little thing matters,” he said.

“And we saw this team now with Australia, to me, their biggest strength is they know who they are.

“It might not be always the most attractive, but it’s extremely effective, and I think that that’s going to be a difficulty that the US finds to break down.”