Cahill has coach’s tick of approval

TIM Cahill’s dream World Cup swan song is alive, with Bert van Marwijk hinting his big-game experience could be telling.

A batch of fringe players will be sweating for the next week before the 32-man preliminary squad is culled by six, with a host of players still in-season plus an injury concern around No.1 striker Tomi Juric.

While dubbing Cahill a “special case” and clearly aware of his legend status, Socceroos boss Bert van Marwijk won’t be taking him there for a send-off parade.

Cyprus-based Apostolos Giannou appears to be on standby for Juric, while Jamie Maclaren has been rewarded for his five goals since joining Hibernian with a call-up.

Japan-based Andrew Nabbout is also a striking consideration, with van Marwijk a fan of his bustling, explosive style.

One striker is set to be cut before the intensive camp in Antalya, Turkey starts on May 19 before another is likely to be among the June 3 exclusions when the official 23-man squad is named.

“I cannot choose six strikers. But I need two or three,” van Marwijk said.

“I have to make a choice in the end about the strikers, and it will not be easy, but that’s why I’m here. I’m not afraid of that, and he [Cahill] is a special case. He is a player who can make a difference. He will not be nervous if we play in front of 80,000 people.”

Melbourne City bolter Daniel Arzani and Karacic are likely to be assessed in Antalya and, assuming they’re fit, van Marwijk appears to be leaning towards picking the them too.

Van Marwijk said the camp, which includes games against the Czech Republic in Austria on June 2 and Hungary (June 10, Budapest) would be critical to his preparation, ahead of his “only focus”, the June 16 opener against France in Kazan.