Arnie dismisses notion of Cahill circus

SOCCEROOS coach Graham Arnold has dismissed suggestions Tim Cahill’s final international appearance will be a distraction, as he sets his sights on creating Australia’s greatest-ever football team.

After Cahill’s participation in the friendly with Lebanon on November 20 in Sydney was confirmed, former Socceroos captain Craig Moore feared the lead-up to the match could affect Australia’s preparations for January’s Asian Cup finals in the UAE.

However, Arnold yesterday defended the decision to give 38- year-old Cahill his 108th and final cap so close to a major tournament, and denied it would be a distraction.

“It won’t be a circus at all,” Arnold said from his first Socceroos training camp in Turkey.

“Timmy will get five minutes at the end of the game plus added time. For 85 minutes of that game it will be all about the preparation for the Asian Cup, and for five minutes it will be to say goodbye to a country’s legend.”

Arnold said Cahill, who is about to start a stint with Indian club Jamshedpur, would join the camp either the night before the Lebanon clash, or even on game day.

Arnold won’t be massively overhauling the methods of his predecessor Bert van Marwijk.

“Bert’s way without the ball won’t change, it’s the modern way and it’s the way to do it,” Arnold said.

“We’ve removed the word ‘change’ in here, we’re not changing anything. We’re just adding layers on top of what’s been in the past to make us the greatest Socceroos team that has ever been.”

Although emerging star Daniel Arzani hasn’t been getting early season time with Scottish giants Celtic, or been included in their Europa League squad, Arnold was upbeat about the 19-year-old’s development.

Arnold plans to meet Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers next week, when he will visit clubs through the UK and the Netherlands to build relationships.

‘"I do know Celtic rate him (Arzani) very highly, the kid has only been there for two weeks and he needs a little bit of time to settle.”