Give Cahill chance to rattle rivals
THE “bring on Tim Cahill” calls are growing louder in Russia for Australia’s greatest Socceroo to be thrown into tonight’s desperation clash with Denmark.
Highly respected Fox Sports expert Andy Harper has called on coach Bert van Marwijk to use the goalscoring maestro “to scare the life out of Denmark” in a game the Socceroos have to at least draw to stay alive in this tournament.
Harper has been supported by the Socceroos’ head of sports science Craig Duncan who said: “Age is often overrated. There’s one thing with Tim – you always know he’ll be ready on game day.”
The 38-year-old Cahill would join legends Pele, Miroslav Klose, Uwe Seeler and Cristiano Ronaldo as the only players to score at four World Cups if he can find the back of the net against Denmark.
“Bring him on for 20 minutes of high impact,” Harper said, “Give him enough time to scare the life out of them, which he’ll do.
“We’ve got to make the play and find a route to goal.
“It would spur on his teammates and lift those around him the same way as he has always done.
“He wouldn’t be here if he wasn’t up to it physically.
“Give him the chance to become only the fourth player in history on world’s biggest stage to match the extraordinary achievement of three legends.”
Duncan rates Cahill as the most professional athlete he has worked with.
“The commitment he has to get to the levels to allow him to play are inspiring.”